Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:7-13

Text in red are my additions.

ST. PAUL HOPES HE WILL NOT BE FORCED TO USE HIS AUTHORITY
AGAINST THE CORINTHIANSA Summary of 2 Corinthians 13:7-10

 By the threat of the preceding section the Apostle had in mind only to avert the necessity of using severity upon his arrival in Corinth. He therefore now asks God by His grace to turn the faithful from evil ways, because he much prefers to find them abounding in all good, rather than to have the occasion of exercising his authority. The purpose of writing this letter has also been to move them to penance, and thus to obviate the need of severity when he comes.

2 Cor 13:7. Now we pray God, that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is good, and that we may be as reprobates.

Not that we may appear approved, etc. Better, "Not wishing that we be shown approved." The Apostle prays God that he and his companions may have no occasion to exercise and prove their authority among the Corinthians. He much prefers to be suspected of lacking the power of Christ to punish. It is more important in his judgment that they should do no evil than that he should "appear approved" by showing his authority, although this may cause some to regard him and his companions as reprobates, i.e., unproved, and therefore without the power of Christ.

2 Cor 13:8. For we can do nothing: against the truth; but for the truth.

 If the Corinthians are free from evil the Apostles will be disarmed; for they have no power to oppose good, but evil only.

Truth means moral rectitude.

2 Cor 13:9. For we rejoice that we are weak, and you are strong. This also we pray for, your perfection.

That we are weak. Rather, "When (iorav) we are weak," i.e., the Apostles rejoiced when there was no occasion for showing their power and authority, owing to the strong and fervent faith of the Corinthians. Instead of desiring a chance to display their authority the Apostles rather prayed for the perfection of the faithful, which would make all exercise of authority needless.

 The quoniam of the Vulgate should be quum or quando.

2 Cor 13:10. Therefore I write these things, being absent, that, being present, I may not deal more severely, according to the power which the Lord hath given me unto edification, and not unto destruction.

 The purpose of this letter, or of the last four chapters of it, is again (cf. 2 Cor 12:19) indicated, namely, that the Corinthians may amend and perfect their lives before he arrives among them in person. The Apostle does not want to use his God-given power for destruction, i.e., in punishing, but for edification, i.e., for building up the kingdom of God on earth.

 

CLOSING EXHORTATION, SALUTATION AND SOLEMN BENEDICTION
A Summary of 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 

In a short time the Apostle expects to visit Corinth, and hence only a few words are required to terminate this letter. Following the severity that has preceded in the last four chapters some brief expression of kindness now will dispose the faithful to proper dispositions.

2 Cor 13:11. For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the God of peace and of love shall be with you.

Rejoice (χαιρετε = chairete), i.e., have a holy joy in your belonging to Christ (1 Thess. 5:16).

Be perfect, i.e., correct your faults.

Take exhortation. Rather, "Be comforted," in spite of the troubles in your Church.

Be of one mind, etc., i.e., keep aloof from parties and divisions.

And the God of peace, etc. The inverse order is found in the best Greek: "And the God of love and peace," etc. The connection with the two preceding exhortations is very close: "Be of one mind, and the God of love shall be with you; have peace, and the God of peace shall be with you" (Plum.).

2 Cor 13:12. Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the saints salute you.

Salute one another, etc. See on Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20.

All the saints, i.e., all the Christians in the place from which St. Paul was writing this letter. The place is Macedonia, perhaps at Philippi, for all who hold the integrity of 2 Cor.; but Ephesus, for those who believe this verse to be a part of the severe letter written between 1 and 2 Cor.

2 Cor 13:13. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.

 This verse contains the fullest and most instructive of the benedictions found in St. Paul's letters. The blessing here given is extended to all the Corinthians and embraces everything necessary for them, namely, "the grace of Christ, by which we are justified and saved; the charity of God the Father, by which we are united to Him; and the communication of the Holy Spirit, distributing to us His divine gifts" (St. Thomas). The only blessing which rivals this one in St. Paul is that found at the close of Ephesians. Perhaps the Apostle felt that the Corinthian Church, by reason of its dissensions and strifes, was in particular need of a more complete benediction.

 The Greek Fathers frequently appealed to this verse against the various Anti-Trinitarian heretics. The familiarity with which St. Paul here refers to the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity shows that even at so early a date the faithful, who were far removed from the older centres of Christian thought and teaching, were well acquainted with the doctrine of three Persons in one divine nature. Of course, it was expressed in the baptismal formula (Matt 28:19), and was therefore one of the first doctrines to be taught.

 The Amen is wanting in the best MSS.

SUGGESTED READINGS ON SECOND CORINTHIANS

These are merely recommendations and should not be considered as an endorsement of any interpretations offered or theological position taken.  A "(P)" marking indicates that the author is Protestant; an "(E)" indicates a work which is part of an ecumenically oriented series; no mark indicates the author is Catholic. A question mark "(?)" accompanying an "(E)" marking indicates that the theological tradition of the author is unknown. "(C)" indicates a Catholic author.

(C) Podcast Study of 2 Corinthians. Twelve episodes. I've linked to the archive page. Scroll down to the listing under the year 2009 to find the talks on 2 Cor. You may also wish to listen to the episodes on the Life of St Paul recorded in that same year. If you want to include 1 Cor., scroll down to 2008. Also listed under 2008 are talks on Galatians, our next study.

 (C)  First and Second Letters of St Paul to the Corinthians (Ignatius Study Bible). Extended footnotes on the text. A good resource for beginners.

 (P) The Letters to the Corinthians (New Daily Study Bible).  William Barclay's famous series. Theologically problematic at times (even to many Protestants). There is a good bit of pastoral wisdom in these works which might be of benefit to clergy.

 (E C) Invitation to the New Testament Epistles, Vol II.  Uses the text of the Jerusalem Bible. Includes commentaries on 1 & 2 Thess., 1 & 2 Cor., Phil., Phlm.

 (C) The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New Testament for Spiritual Reading, Vol. 13).

 (C) St Paul's Letters to the Corinthians (Navarre Bible Commentary). Deservedly popular. The brain child of St Jose Marie Escriva.

 (C) 2 Corinthians (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture). An exceptionally fine series of commentaries on the New Testament.

 (C) 2 Corinthians (New Testament Message, Vol XII). I find a few things in this book theologically problematic.

 (C) Seven Pauline Letters. Succinct commentaries on Philemon, 1 Thess., 1 & 2 Cor., Philip., Gal., and Rom. Argues for the structural integrity of each letter (i.e., they're not compiled from fragments).

 (E P) 2 Corinthians (Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching).

 (E ?) 1 and 2 Corinthians (Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, Vol. VII). Pastoral and theological interpretations from the Fathers of the Church.

 (E ?). Ambrosiaster: Commentaries on Romans and 1 & 2 Corinthians (Ancient Christian Text Series). Ambrosiaster is a name give to the author of a several commentaries on various Letters of St Paul. It is derived from the fact that they were once attributed to t Ambrose of Milan.

(C P) St John Chrysostom's Homilies on 2 Corinthians. This translation was done by Protestants but the New Advent site has not reproduced the translators footnotes and comments which were sometimes hostile to Catholics.

 (C) St Thomas Aquinas' Lectures on 2 Corinthians. Online. English translation in the right hand column. Difficult at times.

(C) Second Corinthians (Sacra Pagina Series). Difficult and technical. Argues for the structural integrity of the letter, a position not favored by many modern scholars who contend that the seemingly singular letter is, in fact, a compilation of several (perhaps as many as 4) different letters.