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2 Corinthians 13:8

in 2 Corinthians 13

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

KJV

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

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This verse in 2 Corinthians 13

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Ambrosiaster

COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES · Written before 384.

Paul is saying this because there is no power against the truth. They cannot reprove someone who is living a good life, but only someone who is an enemy of the law. This power will come to nothing if people have done what is good.

This site's exposition

that ye should do that which is honest

on 2 Corinthians 13:7-8

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates: Paul states a preference that overturns every worldly ministry calculation, he would rather the Corinthians do right and he himself look like a failed apostle than the reverse, his own vindication mattering less than their obedience. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth: the bench reads the sentence as both a confession and a boundary, Paul's apostolic authority is real but it is not autonomous, bound to serve truth and incapable of overriding it, a limit no false apostle at Corinth had placed on himself.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on 2 Corinthians · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

Seest thou how in every way he can, he makes what he says void of offensiveness, and softens the harshness of his menace? Moreover as he has eagerly endeavored this, so is he desirous also to show that his mind was quite joined to them.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily 29 on 2 Corinthians · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth." For that he may not seem [merely] to be gratifying them, (for this is what one who was void of vain-glory might do,) but to be doing what the nature of the thing demanded, he added this, "for we can do nothing against the truth." "For if we find you," he says, "in good repute, having driven away your sins by repentance and having boldness towards God; we shall not be able thereafter, were we never so willing, to punish you, but should we attempt it even, God will not work with us. For to this end gave He us our power that the judgment we give should be true and righteous, not contrary to the truth."

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Thomas Aquinas

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1274.

proposed

That he would lack this power of judging, if they are good, is shown when he says: For we cannot do anything against the truth. As if to say: we do not labor for anything but the truth, and for it we stand. But it …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Corinthians · Written before 1107.

proposed

In order not to appear to be flattering, he says: I am not at all doing this out of vainglory, that is, I affirm that we will not have the power to punish you when we find you not fallen. Even if we attempt to …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

, We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. If therefore they did not do evil, nor act contrary to their profession of the gospel, the apostle had no power nor authority to punish them.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation

5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

For we can do nothing against the truth - Neither against that which is just and right, nor against those who walk according to the truth of the gospel.
For we can do nothing against the truth,....

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth - As we are the apostles of God, we cannot bring to you any false doctrine; and, as we profess to be under the influence of God’s Spirit, we cannot do any thing that is opposed to that truth, or which might be prejudicial to it. On the contrary, what we say and do is for that truth, to propagate and establish it. The Gospel of Jesus is truth; and my testimony concerning it is truth also.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Our apostolic power is given us that we may use it not against, but for the furtherance of, the truth. Where you are free from fault, there is no scope for its exercise: and this I desire.
For we - That is, we the apostles. Can do nothing against the truth ... - That is, we who are under the influence of the Spirit of God; who have been commissioned by him as apostles, can do nothing that shall be against the great system of truth which we are appointed to promulgate and defend. You need, therefore, apprehend no partial or severe discipline from us; no unjust construction of your conduct. Our aim is to promote the truth, and to do what is right; and we cannot, therefore, by any regard to our own reputation, or to any personal advantage, do what is wrong, or countenance, or desire what is wrong in others. We must wish that which is right to be done by others, whatever may be the effect on us - whether we are regarded as apostles or deceivers. I suppose, therefore, that this verse is designed to qualify and confirm the sentiment in the previous verse, that Paul meant to do only right; that he wished all others to do right; and that whatever might be the effect on his own reputation, or however he might be regarded, he could not go against the great system of gospel truth which he preached, or even desire that others should ever do wrong, though it might in any way be for his advantage. It was a fixed principle with him to act only in accordance with truth; to do what was right.

The words behind it

11 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

John 15:5I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.58 worksProverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.10 worksMark 9:39“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.9 worksActs 4:28–30They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.5 worksHebrews 2:3–4how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,4 worksNumbers 16:28–35Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for it was not my own doing:4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 5:1–11Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.3 works1 Timothy 1:20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.3 works2 Corinthians 10:8For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed.3 works2 Corinthians 13:10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.3 worksActs 13:3–12And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.2 worksMark 16:17–19And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;2 works2 Kings 2:23–25From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!”2 works1 Corinthians 5:4–5When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of the Lord Jesus,2 worksLuke 9:49–56“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”2 worksActs 19:11–17God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,2 worksProverbs 26:2Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.2 works2 Kings 1:9–13Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’”1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Proverbs 21:30

    There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

    it leads to

    • Acts 5:39

      But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”

    • Proverbs 19:21

      Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

    • Jeremiah 9:23

      This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.

    • Isaiah 14:27

      The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?

    • 1 Corinthians 3:19–20

      For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

  • Through

    Mark 9:39

    “Do not stop him,” Jesus replied. “For no one who performs a miracle in My name can turn around and speak evil of Me.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 12:3

      Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

    • 1 Corinthians 13:1–2

      If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.

    • Philippians 1:18

      What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

About 2 Corinthians

The Crown of Thorns, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Crown of Thorns, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 2 Corinthians 13 →
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 29 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.

Read on in 2 Corinthians 13 →