2 Corinthians 13:8
New International Version
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

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

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

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

Berean Literal Bible
For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth.

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

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

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

NASB 1995
For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

NASB 1977
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.

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

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the cause of the truth.

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

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We can't do anything against the truth but only to help the truth.

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

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

Literal Standard Version
for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth;

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

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

NET Bible
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

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

New Heart English Bible
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.

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

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

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Examine Yourselves
7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong--not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

2 Corinthians 13:9
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.


Treasury of Scripture

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

2 Corinthians 13:10
Therefore 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.

2 Corinthians 10:8
For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

Numbers 16:28-35
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind…

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Able Furtherance Power True. Truth
2 Corinthians 13
1. Paul threatens severity, and the power of his apostleship, against obstinate sinners.
5. And, advising them to a trial of their faith,
7. and to a reformation of their sins before his coming,
11. he concludes his epistle with a general exhortation and a prayer.














(8) For we can do nothing against the truth.--Better, perhaps, we are powerless. Here, again, the meaning lies below the surface. The first impression which the words convey is that he is asserting his own thoroughness as a champion of the truth, so that it was a moral impossibility for him to do anything against it. The true sequence of thought, however, though it does not exclude that meaning, compels us to read much more between the lines. "Yes," he says, "we are content to seem to fail, as regards the exercise of our apostolic power to chastise offenders; for the condition of that power is that it is never exercised against the truth, and therefore if you walk in the truth, there will be no opening for its exercise." The feeling is analogous to that of Romans 9:3 : "I could wish myself accursed from Christ for my brethren's sake;" perhaps also to that of the Baptist: "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30); perhaps, yet again, to that of the patriot dying with the prayer, "May my name be without honour if only my country may be saved."

Verse 8. - We can do nothing against the truth. I am powerless against anything which is true, real, sincere; I can exercise no power except in the cause of the truth. Be true to the gospel, and you will be mighty and I shall be powerless, and (as he proceeds to say) I shall rejoice at the result.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

we cannot do
δυνάμεθά (dynametha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

anything
τι (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

against
κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

truth,
ἀληθείας (alētheias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.

but only
ἀλλὰ (alla)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

truth.
ἀληθείας (alētheias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.


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NT Letters: 2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against (2 Cor. 2C iiC 2Cor ii cor iicor)
2 Corinthians 13:7
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