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The Bible Study New Testament

2 Corinthians 13:8

But only for it. To act against the truth would be to act from worldly motives and selfish goals. "We apostles do not use our supernormal power to oppose the truth, but always to support it!!!" The Expositor's Greek Testament says: "It is a general principle, which Christian theology has not always sufficiently remembered, that to fight against truth, whether ethical or historical or scientific, is to fight against Him who is the Truth, and so is to court defeat. We can do nothing, even if we would, against the truth." Compare Gamaliel's statement in Acts 5:33-39. Imagine how Paul must have felt at his conversion.

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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

    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...

  • 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...

  • 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

    ΑΛΉΘΕΙΑ (G225) истина. Это слово может использоваться здесь в самом общем значении (Barrett)....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 2 Maturation Through Self-Examination (2 Corinthians 13:5-10) 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that J...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. Our apostolic power is given us only for the furtherance of the truth. Where you are "for the truth," we cannot punish you for the sake o...

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

    14 What a fund of fatherly affection is revealed in his protest, "I am not seeking _ yours _ but _ you_!" And it must have humbled them to think of their own lack of care and consideration. They deser...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    The Apostle announces a third visit, and exhorts them to repentance. He expresses his desire for their growth in grace. PARAPHRASE. '(1) This is the third visit I am about to pay you. On this occasion...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. 'We pray to God that you may lead a pure and holy life, not to do us credit, but because it is right, even though we be like false apostles. (8) For our authority is given us to advance wh...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    AGAINST THE TRUTH] He has no pleasure in their evil-doing, although it gives him opportunity to exercise his authority....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD SHOWS HIS POWER WHEN WE ARE WEAK 2 CORINTHIANS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 13 V1 This will be my third visit to you. If you accuse anyone, two or three witnesses must speak in evidence. V2 I said...

  • 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)

    CHAPTER 28 CONCLUSION. 2 Corinthians 13:1 (R.V) THE first part of this chapter is in close connection with what precedes; it is, so to speak, the explanation of St. Paul's fear 2 Corinthians 12:20 t...

  • 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...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    2 Corinthians 13:1-10. IF HE COMES AGAIN, HE WILL NOT SPARE: CHRIST IS HIS STRENGTH: LET THE CORINTHIANS SEE TO IT THAT HE BE THEIRS ALSO....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    HOW TO BE BUILT UP 2 Corinthians 13:7 None can really injure the truth or stop its victorious progress. As well try to stop the sunrise. We often help others most in our weakness, because then we rel...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In view of his intention to visit them again the apostle urged them to personal examination. They were to test themselves, and to prove themselves whether they were in the faith. The reason for his ap...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    VERSE 8 Instead of rejoicing over a chance to show his power because of this evil, Paul would pray that their good would cause his authority to go without proof....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (6) But I trust that ye shall know tha...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    2 Corinthians 1:1-24. It is impossible to read the two epistles to the Corinthians with the smallest care without perceiving the strong contrast between the wounded tone of the first epistle (the hear...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _CO-OPERATION IN THE TRUTH_ ‘We can do nothing against the truth; but [only] for the truth.’ 2 Corinthians 13:8 Is that not a satisfying picture of our relationship to truth? The truth—the reality...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    8._For we can do nothing_: That is — “I do not seek, or desire any other power, than what the Lord has conferred upon me, that I may promote the truth. To false Apostles it is all one, provided they h...

  • 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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 o...

  • 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

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

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

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

  • 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

    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 t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    TRUTH in this place notes integrity of life and conversation; truth in action, opposed to hypocrisy, or scandalous living. He had before prayed, that they might _do no evil; _ which if they did not, t...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. [While hoping or expecting to be vindicated, his prayer is of a different sort. We pray, says he, that you may be kept from evil, and thus e...

  • 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)

    2 Corinthians 13:8. FOR WE CAN DO NOTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH, BUT FOR THE TRUTH: ‘For our one object is to promote and establish the truth; and that end attained, if with the exercise of discipline, al...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    AGAINST THE TRUTH (κατα της αληθειας). He means in the long run. We can hinder and hold down the truth by evil deeds (Romans 1:18), but in the end the truth wins....

  • 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 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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Old Testament