English Standard Version
2 Corinthians 13:7
7But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
2 Corinthians 13:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.
- New Living Translation (NLT)We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority.
Context of 2 Corinthians 13:7
5Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 132 Corinthians 13:7 word by word
εὐχόμεθα δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowδέde · thenG1161
- I prayεὔχομαιeuchomai · to pray/wish forG2172
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- thatποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- noμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
- notοὐou · noG3756
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- should appearφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- approvedδόκιμοςdokimos · testedG1384
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- is honestκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- reprobatesἀδόκιμοςadokimos · failingG96
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 13:7
- 2 Corinthians 13:9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
- 1 Chronicles 4:10Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked.
- Matthew 6:13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
- John 17:15I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.
- Philippians 1:9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Timothy 4:18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
- 2 Corinthians 10:18For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
- Romans 16:10Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
- 2 Timothy 2:15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
- James 1:12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.
- Romans 12:17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
- Romans 13:13Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 13:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7I pray to God that ye do no evil - That ye do not persist in that course which will oblige me to use the power of Christ, with which I am endued, to punish you. Some apply this prayer to the apostle himself: Now I pray to God that I may do You no evil - that I may not be obliged to use my apostolic rod, and inflict evil upon you. Not that we should appear approved - We do not wish to give this proof that we are approved of God, by inflicting this…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil - I earnestly desire that you may do right, and only right; and I beseech God that it may be so, whatever may be the result in regard to me, and whatever may be thought of my claims to the apostolic office. This is designed to mitigate the apparent severity of the sentiment in 2 Corinthians 13:6. There he had said that they would find him fully endowed with the power of an apostle. They would see that he was able…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-10Verses 7-10 The most desirable thing we can ask of God, for ourselves and our friends, is to be kept from sin, that we and they may not do evil. We have far more need to pray that we may not do evil, than that we may not suffer evil. The apostle not only desired that they might be kept from sin, but also that they might grow in grace, and increase in holiness. We are earnestly to pray to God for those we caution, that they may cease to do evil, and learn…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7that you will not do anything wrong: They would do wrong by following the false teachers who had appeared (11:5, 13–15; see study note on 10:1–13:13). even if we appear to have failed: Paul’s goal in ministry is to be faithful, not to seem successful (1 Corinthians 4:2). He modeled his service on Jesus Christ himself (2 Corinthians 13:4), who seemed weak and a failure by dying on the cross. But Jesus is now victorious as he lives by God's mighty power.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. I pray--The oldest manuscripts read, "we pray." not that we should appear approved--not to gain credit for ourselves, your ministers, by your Christian conduct; but for your good [Alford]. The antithesis to "reprobates" leads me to prefer explaining with Bengel, "We do not pray that we may appear approved," by restraining you when ye do evil; "but that ye should do what is right" (English Version, "honest"). though we be as reprobates--though we be…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 13:7
In the dictionaries
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
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