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.
Being of good behaviour among the Gentiles; so that though they say now that you are evil-doers, they may see your good works and give glory to God when he comes to be their judge.
There is a blessing on the man who undergoes testing; because, if he has God's approval, he will be given the crown of life, which the Lord has said he will give to those who have love for him.
Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.
For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.
For the rest, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things have honour, whatever things are upright, whatever things are holy, whatever things are beautiful, whatever things are of value, if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, give thought to these things.
And my prayer is that you may be increased more and more in knowledge and experience; So that you may give your approval to the best things; that you may be true and without wrongdoing till the day of Christ; Being full of the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete.
For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.
By glory and by shame, by an evil name and a good name; as untrue, and still true; Unnoted, but still kept fully in mind; as near to death, but still living; as undergoing punishment, but not put to death;
But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God, in quiet strength, in troubles, in need, in sorrow,
For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men. We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame. Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place; And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly; When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.
Give my love to Apelles, who has the approval of Christ. Say a kind word to those who are of the house of Aristobulus.
Do not give evil for evil to any man. Let all your business be well ordered in the eyes of all men.
My prayer is not that you will take them out of the world, but that you will keep them from the Evil One.
And Jabez made a prayer to the God of Israel, saying, If only you would truly give me a blessing, and make wider the limits of my land, and let your hand be with me, and keep me from evil, so that I may not be troubled by it! And God gave him his desire.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 13 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 13
In this chapter the apostle threatens to be severe against obstinate sinners, and assigns the reason thereof (v. 1-6); then he makes a suitable prayer to God on the behalf of the Corinthians, with the reasons inducing him thereto (v. 7-10), and concludes his epistle with a valediction and a benediction (v. 11-14).
2Cr 13:1-6
In these verses observe,
2Cr 13:7-10
Here we have,
2Cr 13:11-14
Thus the apostle concludes this epistle with,