New English Translation
2 Corinthians 5:13
13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
2 Corinthians 5:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
- New International Version (NIV)If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
Context of 2 Corinthians 5:13
11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. 15And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 52 Corinthians 5:13 word by word
εἴτε γὰρ ἐξέστημεν, θεῷ· εἴτε σωφρονοῦμεν, ὑμῖν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 5:13
- 2 Corinthians 11:1I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!
- 2 Corinthians 12:6For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,
- Acts 26:24As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
- 1 Corinthians 4:10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,
- 2 Samuel 6:21David replied to Michal, “It was before the Lord! I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the Lord’s people Israel.
- Acts 26:25But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words.
- Romans 12:3For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.
- 2 Corinthians 7:12So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God.
- Colossians 1:24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body – for the sake of his body, the church – what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
- 2 Timothy 2:10So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Beside ourselves - Probably he was reputed by some to be deranged. Festus thought so: Paul, thou art beside thyself; too much learning hath made thee mad. And his enemies at Corinth might insinuate not only that he was deranged, but attribute his derangement to a less worthy cause than intense study and deep learning. It is to God - If we do appear, in speaking of the glories of the eternal world, to be transported beyond ourselves, it is through the good…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For whether we be beside ourselves - This is probably designed to meet some of the charges which the false teachers in Corinth brought against him, and to furnish his friends there with a ready answer, as well as to show them the true principles on which he acted, and his real love for them. It is altogether probable that he was charged with being deranged; that many who boasted themselves of prudence, and soberness, and wisdom, regarded him as acting…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 The apostle quickens himself and others to acts of duty. Well-grounded hopes of heaven will not encourage sloth and sinful security. Let all consider the judgment to come, which is called, The terror of the Lord. Knowing what terrible vengeance the Lord would execute upon the workers of iniquity, the apostle and his brethren used every argument and persuasion, to lead men to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to act as his disciples. Their zeal…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13If we are out of our mind: This statement might suggest that during Paul's previous visit to Corinth (2:1–2), people accused him of being out of his mind when he shared the simple good news about Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. be--rather as Greek, "have been." The contrast is between the single act implied by the past tense, "If we have ever been beside ourselves," and the habitual state implied by the present, "Or whether we be sober," that is, of sound mind. beside ourselves--The accusation brought by Festus against him (Ac 26:24). The holy enthusiasm with which he spake of what God effected by His apostolic ministry, seemed to many to be boasting madness. sober--humbling…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 5:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 5
- 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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