Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Read the Bible

Lexham English Bible

2 Corinthians 13:8

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

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Holiness;   Zeal, Religious;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Truth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 2 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Truth;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for April 4;  

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.
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.
Bible in Basic English
Because we are able to do nothing against what is true, but only for it.
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 we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even though we are seen as though unqualified. 8 For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but rather only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity. 10 Because of this, I am writing these things although I am absent, in order that when I am present I may not have to act severely according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

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 was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 13:3
And he went according to his journey from the Negev, then to Bethel, to the place where his tent was at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
Genesis 13:6
And the land could not support them so as to live together, because their possessions were so many that they were not able to live together.
Genesis 13:7
And there was a quarrel between the herdsmen of the livestock of Abram and the herdsmen of the livestock of Lot. Now at that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land.
Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you want what is on the left, then I will go right; if you want what is on the right, I will go left."
Genesis 13:11
So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan. And Lot journeyed from the east, and so they separated from each other.
Genesis 13:14
And Yahweh said to Abram after Lot had separated from him, "Now, lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are to the north, and to the south, and to the east and to the west,
Genesis 13:17
Arise, go through the length of the land and through its breadth, for I will give it to you."
Genesis 13:18
So Abram pitched his tent, and he came and settled at the oaks of Mamre, which were at Hebron. And there he built an altar to Yahweh.
Genesis 45:24
Then he sent his brothers away, and when they departed he said to them, "Do not be agitated on the journey."

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.


 
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