2 Corinthians 13:8

Bible in Basic English

Because we are able to do nothing against what is true, but only for it.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For we can’t do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

King James Version (1611)
For wee can doe nothing against the trueth, but for the trueth.

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

English Standard Version
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

New American Standard Bible
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

New Century Version
We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Amplified Bible
For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth [and the gospel—the good news of salvation].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

Legacy Standard Bible
For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

Berean Standard Bible
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Contemporary English Version
All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it.

Complete Jewish Bible
For we cannot act against the truth, only for it.

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

Easy-to-Read Version
We cannot do anything that is against the truth but only what promotes the truth.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For wee can not doe any thing against the trueth, but for the trueth.

George Lamsa Translation
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but for the truth.

Good News Translation
For we cannot do a thing against the truth, but only for it.

Lexham English Bible
For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but rather only for the truth.

Literal Translation
For we cannot have any power against the truth, but on behalf of the truth.

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

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

International Standard Version
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Etheridge Translation
For we are not able to do any thing against the truth, but for the truth.

Murdock Translation
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but [fn] for the truth.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we can do nothyng agaynst the trueth: but for the trueth.

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

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

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

Weymouth's New Testament
For we have no power against the truth, but only for the furtherance of the truth;

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For we moun no thing ayens treuthe, but for the treuthe.

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

Webster's Bible Translation
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

New English Translation
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

New King James Version
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

New Living Translation
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.

New Life Bible
We cannot work against the truth of God. We only work for it.

New Revised Standard
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we can do nothing against the truth: but for the truth.

Revised Standard Version
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
We can do no thinge agaynst the trueth but for the trueth.

Young's Literal Translation
for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For we maye do nothinge agaynst ye trueth, but for ye trueth.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I can employ no power against the truth, but for the truth.

Simplified Cowboy Version
We can't go against what is true. We stick to the truth, that's all.

Contextual Overview

⁷ Now our prayer to God is that you may do no evil; not in order that it may be put to our credit, but so that you may do what is right, whatever we may seem. ⁸ Because we are able to do nothing against what is true, but only for it. ⁹ For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete. ¹⁰ For this cause I am writing these things while I am away, so that there may be need for me, when I am present, to make use of sharp measures, by the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for destruction.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Corinthians 13:10, 2 Corinthians 10:8, Numbers 16:28-35, 1 Kings 22:28, 2 Kings 1:9-13, 2 Kings 2:23-25, Proverbs 21:30, Proverbs 26:2, Mark 9:39, Mark 16:17-19, Luke 9:49-56, Acts 4:28-30, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 13:3-12, Acts 19:11-17, 1 Corinthians 5:4, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Timothy 1:20, Hebrews 2:3, Hebrews 2:4

Reciprocal: John 15:5 - can 2 Corinthians 7:9 - that ye 2 Corinthians 13:9 - when

Cross-References

Genesis 13:2
Now Abram had great wealth of cattle and silver and gold.

Genesis 13:3
And travelling on from the South, he came to Beth-el, to the place where his tent had been before, between Beth-el and Ai;

Genesis 13:6
So that the land was not wide enough for the two of them: their property was so great that there was not room for them together.

Genesis 13:7
And there was an argument between the keepers of Abram's cattle and the keepers of Lot's cattle: at that time the Canaanites and Perizzites were still living in the land.

Genesis 13:9
Is not all the land before you? then let us go our separate ways: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; or if you take the right, I will go to the left.

Genesis 13:11
So Lot took for himself all the valley of Jordan, and went to the east, and they were parted from one another.

Genesis 13:14
And the Lord had said to Abram, after Lot was parted from him, From this place where you are take a look to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west:

Genesis 13:17
Come, go through all the land from one end to the other for I will give it to you.

Genesis 13:18
And Abram, moving his tent, came and made his living-place by the holy tree of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and made an altar there to the Lord.

Genesis 45:24
And he sent his brothers on their way, and said to them, See that you have no argument on the road.

Gill's Notes on the 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 continued in it, walked in it, and held it fast; who worshipped God in Spirit and in truth, and who walked uprightly, and as became the truth; for as the law is not made for such persons, but the reverse, so the authority the apostles had received from Christ was not to be exercised upon such:

but for the truth: for the sake of defending the truth against those that dropped, denied, and opposed it; and for the honour of it, by chastising, correcting, reproving, censuring, and punishing such, who either contradicted it, or caused it to be blasphemed and spoken evil of.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 that shall be against the great system of truth which we are appointed to promulgate and defend. You need, therefore, apprehend no partial or severe discipline from us; no unjust construction of your conduct. Our aim is to promote the truth, and to do what is right; and we cannot, therefore, by any regard to our own reputation, or to any personal advantage, do what is wrong, or countenance, or desire what is wrong in others. We must wish that which is right to be done by others, whatever may be the effect on us - whether we are regarded as apostles or deceivers. I suppose, therefore, that this verse is designed to qualify and confirm the sentiment in the previous verse, that Paul meant to do only right; that he wished all others to do right; and that whatever might be the effect on his own reputation, or however he might be regarded, he could not go against the great system of gospel truth which he preached, or even desire that others should ever do wrong, though it might in any way be for his advantage. It was a fixed principle with him to act only in accordance with truth; to do what was right.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 the influence of God's Spirit, we cannot do any thing that is opposed to that truth, or which might be prejudicial to it. On the contrary, what we say and do is for that truth, to propagate and establish it. The Gospel of Jesus is truth; and my testimony concerning it is truth also. In my coming, and in my rod, you have nothing to fear, if you retain and abide in this truth.