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John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Corinthians 13:8

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

Ver. 8. For we can do nothing] A temporary may so fall away, as to persecute the truth that he once professed, and the ministry that he once admired. Never falls a saint so far in his greatest relapses. Bishop Latimer tells of one, who fell away from the known truth, to mocking and scorning it; yet was afterwards touched in conscience for it. Beware of this sin, saith he; for I have known no more than this that repented. It is a very dangerous precipice. (Lat. Serm. before K. Edw.)

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See also 2 Corinthians 13:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Corinthians 13:8. _FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH, BUT FOR THE_ _TRUTH._] As we are the apostles of God, we cannot bring to you any _false_ doctrine; and, as we profess to be under t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR WE - That is, we the apostles. CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH ... - That is, we who are under the influence of the Spirit of God; who have been commissioned by him as apostles, can do nothing th...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    4. STILL ABSENT - YET COMING. THE CONCLUSION. CHAPTER 13 _ 1. Being Absent; Expecting to Come. (2 Corinthians 13:1 .)_ 2. The Conclusion. (2 Corinthians 13:11 .) He speaks in conclusion of his comi...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    WARNINGS IN VIEW OF A VISIT. This closing chapter starts from a vivid realisation of that which is only too likely to be the situation when he arrives for the third time. With increased emphasis, and...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    A WARNING, A WISH, A HOPE AND A BLESSING (2 Corinthians 13:1-14) 13 For the third time I am coming to you. Everything will be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. To those who have alr...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    NOTHING. not (Greek. _ou_. App-106.) ANY THING. (Greek. _tis_. App-123.) AGAINST. Greek. _kata_. App-104. FOR. on behalf of. Greek. _huper._ App-104....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _For we can do nothing against the truth_ The original carries on the idea of _power_of which St Paul has been speaking above. If we are endued with any power from on high, it is not that we may exerc...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΟΥ̓ ΓᾺΡ ΔΥΝΆΜΕΘΆ ΤΙ. _For we_ CANNOT DO ANYTHING _against the truth_. ‘It is morally impossible for one in my position to wish that you should do evil, in order that he might prove that he had the ἐξο...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1–10. The letter hastens to a conclusion. He reminds them, 1. what they have to expect from him in this third visit (1–4); 2. what they owe to themselves, seeing that their estimate of him and his tre...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    5–9. ‘Instead of seeking a proof of the Christ that speaketh in me (2 Corinthians 13:3), it is your own selves that you ought to be testing and proving, to see whether you are in the faith and Christ...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH 2 CORINTHIANS 13:8-10:_ Paul's one desire was to follow the truth and not fight against it. Let us develop that same attitude that says, "We cannot do anything against th...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

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  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

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  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

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  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

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  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH. — Better, perhaps, _we are powerless._ Here, again, the meaning lies below the surface. The first impression which the words convey is that he is asserting his...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    οὐ γὰρ δυνάμ. κ. τ. λ.: _for we can do nothing_, exhibit no Apostolic power, _against the truth, i.e._, against the facts of the case, _but for the truth_ (_cf._ 1 Corinthians 3:1 for the elliptical c...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

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  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

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  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

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  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

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  • John Darby's Synopsis

    _ Commentary for this Chapter is probably included in the next or previous Chapter s._...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH,.... The apostles had no power, nor could they, nor did they desire to exercise any against such who received the truth of the Gospel in the love of it; who con...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Now I pray God that ye do no evil_ To give me occasion of showing my apostolical power; _not that we should appear approved_ I desire not to appear approved by miraculously punishing you; _but that y...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WE CAN DO NOTHING; against truth and duty, however it may affect ourselves....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH, BUT FOR THE TRUTH....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Paul appeals to his readers to stand approved of Christ:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    It is essential that Paul should repeat that this was the third time he was coming to them. Such emphasis was needed to awaken proper exercise. For the second time he had not come, in order to spare t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

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  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

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  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

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  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Corinthians 13:8 For G1063 do G1410 (G5736) nothing G3756 G5100 against G2596 truth G225 but G235 for...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.' This is because he is incapable of doing anything which is against the truth, because he is totally for the truth. What matters to him is...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

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  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

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  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    2 Corinthians 13:8 The Sceptic's Unconscious Ministry to the Truth. I. Two things are terribly fruitful of scepticism, nay, are its chief parents in all ages: (1) the folly, vice, and passion which a...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Closing exhortations of Paul to the Corinthians. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul. CONCLUSION: The great burden of God's faithful representatives is that the Gospel they preach m...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Corinthians 13:1. _This is the third time I am coming to you._ Compare the following texts. Acts 18:1; Acts 20:2; Acts 21:13. The difficulty here is re

  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 2 CORINTHIANS 13:7 Paul desires the Corinthians’ RESTORATION even at this late hour. ⇐...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER 13 SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER i. There were some at Corinth who had abandoned themselves to impurity, others who were proud and contentious (xi. 20, 21), others given to other sins, and dispose...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 2 Corinthians 13:1.—[Good paraphrase, exhibiting connection of thought, from Stanley: “Once, twice, thrice, as in the Mosaic Law of the three witnesses; by my first visit—by this Epis...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    CONCLUDING APPEALS AND EXHORTATIONS, EXPOSITION 2 CORINTHIANS 13:1 THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I AM COMING TO YOU. I have thrice formed the intention, though the second time I had to forego my plan ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now he said, This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. [For] I told you before, and foretell you [I'm telling you again], as if...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 5:4; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Kings 22:28; 1 Timothy 1:20;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    For we can do nothing against the truth. Your well doing is what we truly aim at. For, if we had any other aim, with a view to approving ourselves, we should fail, because we should be going in the fa...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For we can do nothing against the truth — Neither against that which is just and right, nor against those who walk according to the truth of the gospel....

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The apostle having prayed that the Corinthians might be found doing no evil, in the former verse, and assuring them thereupon, that they would then be secure from his CENSURES and CHASTISEMENTS, he as...

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