2 Corinthians 13:7 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

NASB: Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may appear unapproved.

CSB: But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail.

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.

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.

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.

Paul has issued an ominous warning to the Corinthians: when he arrives, none in unrepentant sin will be spared from discipline (2 Corinthians 13:2). He followed that by urging them to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). This suggests they ought to scrutinize their own beliefs and conduct. That should show whether they were living according to their existing faith in Christ. Paul wants them to test themselves to see if Christ is in them.

If they find they do, in fact, believe in the true Christ—as Paul expects they will—it also means Paul has passed the test of being a true apostle of Christ. After all, how could the Corinthians come to true faith in Christ if the one who introduced them to Christ was a false apostle, as Paul's opponents claimed?

Another implication is that if the Corinthians continue in unrepentant sin, it will create an embarrassing situation. Paul will appear—to those outside—to have failed to introduce them to Christ. He quickly adds that his point is not that he's extremely worried about looking good to anyone. It's not the appearance of bringing them to true saving faith in Jesus that matters. In fact, Paul is more than willing for outward appearances to make him look like a failure, so long as the reality is that his work helps bring people to Christ.. What he wants above all is for them to do what is right and, in that way, give evidence that their faith in Christ is true.

Paul's deepest hope for the Corinthians is that Christ is truly in them. Their ability to repent of sin and to continue to follow Christ will be evidence of their faith. He is not saying that giving up sin is what will save them, however. Only faith in Christ can do that (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Second Corinthians 13:1–10 contains Paul's final warning to the Corinthians: repent from sin before he arrives to visit them. None will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain unrepentant. They will see that Christ speaks through Paul when he executes Christ's powerful discipline among them. He urges them to examine themselves to see if Christ is in them and he prays for their restoration. Paul knows he has God-given authority to represent Christ among them, but he hopes he will not have to do so in a severe way when he arrives.

The final chapter of Paul's letter begins with a harsh warning. Nobody living in unrepentant sin when Paul arrives will be spared Paul's discipline. All will learn that Christ speaks through Paul—because Christ will deal powerfully with their sinfulness despite Paul's own weakness. Paul urges them to examine themselves and verify that Christ is in them and, by extension, that he is a true apostle. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of all sin before he arrives so that he will not have to be severe in the use of his authority.

Second Corinthians 13 follows Paul's listing of two sets of sins he is concerned he will find among the Corinthians when he arrives. These are personal divisions and sexual immorality. He warns them once more that nobody will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain in sin. Paul urges them to examine and test themselves to see if Christ is in them. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of sin so that he does not have to be severe with them in his authority as Christ's representative when he arrives.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.