2 Corinthians 13:3

2 Corinthians 13:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
• New International Version (NIV)since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

Context of 2 Corinthians 13:3

1This is the third time that I will be coming to visit you. Remember this: ‘There must be two or three people to say certainly that another person has done something wrong. Two or three people must agree what has happened.’ 2I have already warned those people who did wrong things before. I did that when I was with you on my second visit. Now I am warning them again, while I am away from you. So, when I come to you the next time, nobody will go free. I will punish those people and all the others who have done wrong things. That will tell you what you want to know about me. You will surely know that I speak with the authority of Christ himself. Christ is not weak when he works in you. He shows his power among you. 4People killed Christ on the cross as a weak person. But he now lives by God's power. We are also weak as we serve Christ, like he was weak. But we live, because he now lives. So, when we come to you, we will show God's power among you. 5Think carefully about how you are living. Are you really believing the message about Christ? I hope you know that Jesus Christ is in you. You ought to know that, unless you have completely failed.

2 Corinthians 13:3 word by word

ἐπεὶ δοκιμὴν ζητεῖτε τοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ λαλοῦντος Χριστοῦ ὃς εἰς ὑμᾶς οὐκ ἀσθενεῖ ἀλλὰ δυνατεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Sinceἐπείepei · sinceG1893
• ye seekζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
• a proofδοκιμήdokimē · testG1382
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• speakingλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• you-wardσύsu · youG4771
• isἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
• notοὐou · noG3756
• weakἀσθενέωastheneō · be weak: weakG770
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• is mightyδυνατέωdunateō · be ableG1414

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 13:3

• 2 Corinthians 10:8You may think that I am too proud of my authority. But it is the Lord who has given that authority to us apostles. We have that authority so that we can help you become stronger as believers. We do not have it so that we can destroy you! So I am not ashamed to be proud of this.
• 2 Corinthians 2:10When you forgive anyone, I also forgive that person. Whatever bad thing somebody has done, I have Christ's authority to forgive them. And I do it to help you.
• Matthew 10:20You will not be speaking your own words. The Holy Spirit of your Father God will give you his own words to say.
• Matthew 18:18I tell you this: You will tell people here on earth what is right for them to do. And you will tell them what is not right for them to do. God in heaven will give you this authority. He will agree with what you say.
• Luke 21:15I will give you the right words to speak at that time. I will help you to be wise. The people who are against you will not be able to argue with you. They will just be quiet.
• 1 Corinthians 5:4You have the authority of the Lord Jesus to do this. When you meet together as a group, my spirit will be with you. The power of our Lord Jesus will also be with you.
• 2 Corinthians 2:6Most of you have agreed to punish him. That should be enough.
• 2 Corinthians 3:1We do not need any more to show that our work is good. Some people need to have letters from other people to say that they do good work. We do not need to show you letters like that. Nor do we need you to write a letter like that for us.
• 2 Corinthians 12:12When I was there with you, I showed that I was a true apostle. I worked patiently among you. I did many miracles and great things that showed God's power.
• 1 Corinthians 9:1I am a free man. I am an apostle. I have seen Jesus, our Lord. You yourselves are the result of the work that I do to serve the Lord. You know that is all true.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Since ye seek a proof of Christ - The conversion of the Corinthians was to themselves a solid proof that Christ spoke by the apostle; and therefore he could, with great propriety, say that this power of Christ, far from being weak, was mighty among them.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me - see the notes on the previous chapters. They had called in question his apostolic authority; they had demanded the evidence of his divine commission. He says that he would now furnish such evidence by inflicting just punishment on all offenders, and they should have abundant proof that Christ spoke by him, or that he was inspired. Which to you-ward is not weak - Or who, that is, Christ, is not weak, etc…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-4Christ is speaking through me: Paul represented Christ to the Corinthian congregation and used God's power to guide them. Paul's weakness mirrored Christ's humiliation, as Christ was crucified in weakness (see 8:9). Paul judged sinners with Christ's love in mind (5:14–21). We are also weak: Paul's humanity was frail, but he relied on Christ's strength (12:10).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Since--The reason why he will not spare: Since ye challenge me to give a "proof" that Christ speaks in me. It would be better if ye would "prove your own selves" (2Co 13:5). This disproves the assertion of some that Scripture nowhere asserts the infallibility of its writers when writing it. which--"who" (Christ). is not weak--in relation to you, by me and in this very Epistle, in exercising upon you strong discipline. mighty in you--has given many…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Examine
• Prove
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle
• Ward

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings