2 Corinthians 13 · Verse 3

2 Corinthians 13:3

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2 Corinthians 13:3, King James Version

2 Corinthians 13:3 in other translations

BSBsince you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
WEBseeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me who is not weak, but is powerful in you.
ASVseeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:
YLTsince a proof ye seek of the Christ speaking in me, who to you is not infirm, but is powerful in you,
DARBYSince ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,
BBESeeing that you are looking for a sign of Christ giving out his word in me; who is not feeble in relation to you, but is strong in you:
WebsterSince ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.

What does 2 Corinthians 13:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Since--The reason why he will not spare: Since ye challenge me to give a "proof" that Christ speaks in me. It would be better if ye would "prove your own selves" (2Co 13:5). This disproves the assertion of some that Scripture nowhere asserts the infallibility of its writers when writing it. which--"who" (Christ). is not weak--in relation to you, by me and in this very Epistle, in exercising upon you strong discipline. mighty in you--has given many proofs of His power in miracles, and even in punishing offenders (2Co 5:11, 20, 21). Ye have no need to put me to the proof in this, as long ago Christ has exhibited great proofs of His power by me among you (2Co 12:12) [Grotius]. It is therefore not me, but Christ, whom ye wrong: it is His patience that ye try in despising my admonitions, and derogating from my authority [Calvin].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me. See Barnes on previous chapters. They had called in question his apostolic authority; they had demanded the evidence of his Divine commission. He says that he would now furnish such evidence by inflicting just punishment on all offenders, and they should have abundant proof that Christ spoke by him, or that he was inspired.

Which to you-ward is not weak. Or who, that is, Christ, is not weak, etc. Christ has manifested his power abundantly towards you, that is, either by the miracles that had been wrought in his name; or by the diseases and calamities which they had suffered on account of their disorders and offences, 1Cor 11:30; 1Cor 5:1; and following, or by the force and efficacy of his doctrine. The connexion, it seems to me, requires that we should understand it of the calamities which had been inflicted by Christ on them for their sins, and which Paul says would be inflicted again if they did not repent. The idea is, that they had had ample demonstration of the power of Christ to inflict punishment, and they had reason to apprehend it again.

(*) "you-ward" "towards you" (f) "mighty in you" 1Cor 9:2

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ - The conversion of the Corinthians was to themselves a solid proof that Christ spoke by the apostle; and therefore he could, with great propriety, say that this power of Christ, far from being weak, was mighty among them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13:1-6

Though it is God's gracious method to bear long with sinners, yet he will not bear always; at length he will come, and will not spare those who remain obstinate and impenitent. Christ at his crucifixion, appeared as only a weak and helpless man, but his resurrection and life showed his Divine power. So the apostles, how mean and contemptible soever they appeared to the world, yet, as instruments, they manifested the…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 →

2 Corinthians 13:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐπεὶepeisinceG1893
δοκιμὴνdokimēna proofG1382
ζητεῖτεzēteiteyou seekG2212
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἐνeninG1722
ἐμοὶemoime myselfG1473
λαλοῦντοςlalountosspeakingG2980
ΧριστοῦChristouof ChristG5547
ὃςhoswhoG3739
εἰςeistowardG1519
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀσθενεῖastheneiis weakG770
ἀλλὰallabutG235
δυνατεῖdunateiHe is powerfulG1414
ἐνenamongG1722
ὑμῖν.huminyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 13:3

  • Matthew 10:20

    For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:12

    Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

  • Luke 21:15

    For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:8-10

    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: That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:1-3

    Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

  • Matthew 18:18-20

    Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:6

    Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

  • 2 Corinthians 2:10

    To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

  • 2 Corinthians 10:4

    (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

  • 1 Corinthians 5:4-5

    In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

    Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye seek.
10:8-10
Christ.
2:10; Mt 10:20; 18:18-20; Lu 21:15; 1Co 5:4,5
which.
2:6; 3:1-3; 12:12; 1Co 9:1-3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 13:2

    I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

  • 2 Corinthians 13:3

    Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:4

    For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues buscáis una prueba de Cristo que habla en mí, el cual no es flaco para con vosotros, antes es poderoso en vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Puisque vous cherchez une preuve que Christ parle en moi (lequel n’est pas faible envers vous, mais puissant au milieu de vous;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Weil ihr einen Beweis suchet, daß Christus in mir redet der gegen euch nicht schwach ist, sondern mächtig unter euch;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		An experimentum quæritis ejus, qui in me loquitur Christus, qui in vobis non infirmatur, sed potens est in vobis?