2 Corinthians 13:7

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 2 Corinthians 13:7

5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? 6But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.

2 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

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• we prayεὔχομαιeuchomai · to pray/wish forG2172
• to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• that you doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• noμήmē · notG3361
• wrongκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
• not that we ourselvesἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• may appearφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
• approvedδόκιμοςdokimos · testedG1384
• whatκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• is rightκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
• thoughὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• appearεἰμίeimi · to beG1510

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 13:7

• 2 Corinthians 13:9For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.
• 1 Chronicles 4:10Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.
• Matthew 6:13And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]
• John 17:15I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
• Philippians 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Timothy 4:18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
• 2 Corinthians 6:4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
• 2 Corinthians 10:18For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
• Romans 16:10Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.
• 1 Corinthians 11:19For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.
• 2 Timothy 2:15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
• James 1:12Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
• 2 Corinthians 8:21for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
• Romans 12:17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
• Romans 13:13Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife 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

• Commandments
• Holiness
• Intercession
• Reprobacy
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Examine
• Prove
• Reprobate
• Cast
• Castaway
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Galatians, Epistle to the
• Good

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