New Living Translation
2 Corinthians 13:7
7We 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.
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
5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 6As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority. 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. 8For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
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 13:9We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
- 1 Chronicles 4:10He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
- Matthew 6:13And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
- John 17:15I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
- Philippians 1:9I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
- 2 Timothy 4:18Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
- 2 Corinthians 10:18When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
- Romans 16:10Greet Apelles, a good man whom Christ approves. And give my greetings to the believers from the household of Aristobulus.
- 1 Corinthians 11:19But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
- 2 Timothy 2:15Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
- James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
- 2 Corinthians 8:21We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.
- Romans 12:17Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
- Romans 13:13Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or 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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