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Saturday, June 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible

Green's Literal Translation

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we cannot have any power against the truth, but on behalf of 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.
Lexham English Bible
For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but rather only for 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 But I pray to God for you not to do evil, none; not that we may appear to be approved, but that you may do the good, and we may be disapproved. 8 For we cannot have any power against the truth, but on behalf of the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are powerful. But we pray for this also, your perfection. 10 Because of this, I write these things while absent, that being present I may not deal sharply with you according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for pulling 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
And Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.
Genesis 13:3
And he went on his journeys from the south, even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been there at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
Genesis 13:6
And the land was not able to bear them, for dwelling together, for their wealth was great, so that they could not dwell together.
Genesis 13:7
And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived then in the land.
Genesis 13:9
Is not all the land before you? Please separate from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.
Genesis 13:11
Then Lot chose all the circuit of Jordan for himself. And Lot pulled up stakes toward the east. And they were separated, each one from his brother.
Genesis 13:14
And after Lot had separated from him, Jehovah said to Abram, Now lift up your eyes and look northward and southward and eastward and westward from the place where you are.
Genesis 13:17
Rise up! Walk through the land, in its length and in its breadth, for I will give it to you.
Genesis 13:18
Then Abram moved his tent and came and lived among the oaks of Mamre, which were in Hebron; and he built an altar to Jehovah there.
Genesis 45:24
And he sent his brothers away; and they went. And he said to them, Do not quarrel along the way.

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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