Hello, you are using an old browser that's unsafe and no longer supported. Please consider updating your browser to a newer version, or downloading a modern browser.

Skip to Main Content
Legacy Standard Bible Translation Notes
Return to:
The Tyndale Center for Bible Translation

NOTES

BIBLE

2 Corinthians 13

1

This is the third time I am coming to you. BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED.

Τρίτον τοῦτο ἔρχομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐπὶ στόματος δύο μαρτύρων καὶ τριῶν σταθήσεται πᾶν ῥῆμα.

 
2

I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

προείρηκα καὶ προλέγω ὡς παρὼν τὸ δεύτερον καὶ ἀπὼν νῦν, τοῖς προημαρτηκόσιν καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς πᾶσιν, ὅτι ἐὰν ἔλθω εἰς τὸ πάλιν οὐ φείσομαι,

 
3

since you are seeking proof that Christ speaks in me; He is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

ἐπεὶ δοκιμὴν ζητεῖτε τοῦ ἐν ἐμοὶ λαλοῦντος Χριστοῦ· ὃς εἰς ὑμᾶς οὐκ ἀσθενεῖ ἀλλὰ δυνατεῖ ἐν ὑμῖν,

 
4

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God toward you.

καὶ γὰρ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας, ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ. καὶ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ζήσομεν σὺν αὐτῷ ἐκ δυνάμεως θεοῦ εἰς ὑμᾶς.

 
5

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you⁠—unless indeed you fail the test?

Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε εἰ ἐστὲ ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἑαυτοὺς δοκιμάζετε· ἢ οὐκ ἐπιγινώσκετε ἑαυτοὺς ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν; εἰ μήτι ἀδόκιμοί ἐστε.

yourselves
In this verse, Paul uses the explicit second person pronoun ἑαυτοὺς (heautous; “yourselves”) three times, emphatically directing the Corinthians’ attention to see what is true about themselves. This is a climactic contrast to all of the attention that has been given him so far. After seeing what is true about him, they must test, examine, and recognize themselves as those in whom Jesus Christ Himself dwells—if they are indeed true believers. While some versions translate this particular instance with “recognize this about yourselves,” the added word “this” takes emphasis away from “yourselves,” which Paul is clearly seeking to enforce. Thus, avoiding the addition of unneeded words gives a more literal translation that better preserves Paul’s intended emphasis here.

 
6

But I hope that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

ἐλπίζω δὲ ὅτι γνώσεσθε ὅτι ἡμεῖς οὐκ ἐσμὲν ἀδόκιμοι.

 
7

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.

εὐχόμεθα δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλʼ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.

 
8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

οὐ γὰρ δυνάμεθά τι κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας, ἀλλὰ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀληθείας.

 
9

For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong. This we also pray for, that you be restored.

χαίρομεν γὰρ ὅταν ἡμεῖς ἀσθενῶμεν, ὑμεῖς δὲ δυνατοὶ ἦτε· τοῦτο καὶ εὐχόμεθα, τὴν ὑμῶν κατάρτισιν.

restored
“Restored” translates κατάρτισις (katartisis), which is the nominal form of the verb καταρτίζω (katartizō) which has the idea of making something fully prepared or equipped, or restoring it to proper full function (used of the disciples “mending” their torn nets in Matt 4:21 and Mark 1:19). Thus, restored is a very appropriate and helpful translation, also distinguishing this word from words built on the τελ (tel) root for “complete,” “finished,” or “mature.” Paul prays that the Corinthians, though they have struggled much to appreciate his apostleship and to live as holy believers, will be restored to full strength to honor the Lord in their faith and behavior.

 
10

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα ἀπὼν γράφω, ἵνα παρὼν μὴ ἀποτόμως χρήσωμαι κατὰ τὴν ἐξουσίαν ἣν ὁ κύριος ἔδωκέν μοι, εἰς οἰκοδομὴν καὶ οὐκ εἰς καθαίρεσιν.

 
11

Finally, brothers, rejoice, be restored, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Λοιπόν, ἀδελφοί, χαίρετε, καταρτίζεσθε, παρακαλεῖσθε, τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖτε, εἰρηνεύετε, καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῆς ἀγάπης καὶ εἰρήνης ἔσται μεθʼ ὑμῶν.

restored
Refer to the discussion on verse 9 above.

 
12

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν ἁγίῳ φιλήματι.

 
13

All the saints greet you.

ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἅγιοι πάντες.

 
14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἡ κοινωνία τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν.

 
Copyright © 2023 The Tyndale Center at The Master's Seminary. All rights reserved.
The English biblical text is taken from the Legacy Standard Bible
Legacy Standard Bible Copyright ©2021 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org
For permission to quote information visit http://www.LSBible.org
The Hebrew Old Testament is taken from the Unicode/XML Westminster Leningrad Codex
WLC Version 4.20 | UXLC 2.0 (27.1)
Transcribed to Unicode/XML by Christopher V. Kimball, Publisher (Tanach.us Inc.)
The Westminster Leningrad Codex is in the public domain.
For more information visit www.Tanach.us
The Greek New Testament is taken from the Society of Biblical Literature Greek New Testament
Edited by Michael W. Holmes
The SBLGNT is licensed freely under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License
Copyright 2010 Logos Bible Software and the Society of Biblical Literature
For more information about the SBLGNT visit www.SBLGNT.com