The big picture
2 Corinthians 13 opens in verse 1 with “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye…”, and closes in verse 14 with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy…” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, power, reprobates, weak, absent. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 142 Corinthians 13:1-7
1–7: This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three…
2 Corinthians 13:1–7 opens with “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every…” and reaches “Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church preparing for Paul’s visit with a call to self-examination, restoration, peace, and mutual encouragement, with particular weight carried by reprobates, Christ, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which…” The line’s distinctive content terms include absent, foretell, heretofore. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 13:1-7
King James Version1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine 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?
6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7Now 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.
2 Corinthians 13:8-14
8–14: For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
2 Corinthians 13:8–14 opens with “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” and reaches “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The church preparing for Paul’s visit with a call to self-examination, restoration, peace, and mutual encouragement, with particular weight carried by holy, Lord, love.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Corinthians 13:8-14
King James Version8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 13:1 begins with “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 13:7 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
2 Corinthians 13:14 leaves the reader with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, power, reprobates, weak, absent, holy help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- hath
- has
- lest
- so that something does not happen
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.