KJV: Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
YLT: and I pray before God that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is right, and we may be as disapproved;
Darby: But we pray to God that ye may do nothing evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is right, and we be as reprobates.
ASV: Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.
| Εὐχόμεθα | We pray |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural Root: εὔχομαι Sense: to pray to God. |
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| δὲ | now |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| τὸν | - |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| Θεὸν | God |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
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| ποιῆσαι | to do |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: ποιέω Sense: to make. |
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| κακὸν | wrong |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: κακός Sense: of a bad nature. |
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| μηδέν | nothing |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: μηδείς Sense: nobody, no one, nothing. |
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| ἵνα | that |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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| δόκιμοι | approved |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: δόκιμος Sense: accepted, particularly of coins and money. |
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| φανῶμεν | might appear |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 1st Person Plural Root: φαίνω Sense: to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light. |
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| τὸ | what [is] |
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Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| καλὸν | right |
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Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: καλός Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable. |
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| ποιῆτε | may do |
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Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ποιέω Sense: to make. |
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| δὲ | though |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| ἀδόκιμοι | unapproved |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ἀδόκιμος Sense: not standing the test, not approved. |
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| ὦμεν | might appear |
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Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 13:7
Literally, “And that” Paul wishes them to do no wrong He has no desire to exercise his apostolic authority and “appear approved” He had far rather see them do “the noble thing” (το καλον to kalon) even if it should make him appear disapproved after all that he has said. [source]
The sense of the verse is this: We pray God that you do no evil, not in order that your good conduct may attest the excellence of our teaching and example, so that we shall be approved; but in order that you may do what is good, thus rendering it impossible for us to prove our apostolic authority by administering discipline. In that case we shall be as men unapproved. Stanley remarks that, in the light of this verse, Paul might have added to 2 Corinthians 6:9, as without proof and yet as aprroved. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 13:7
The tried and true (1 Corinthians 11:19; 2 Corinthians 10:18; 2 Corinthians 13:7). Them which are of the household of Aristobulus (τους εκ των Αριστοβουλου tous ek tōn Aristoboulou). The younger Aristobulus was a grandson of Herod the Great. Lightfoot suggests that some of the servants in this household had become Christians, Aristobulus being dead. [source]
Or pray as 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:9; James 5:16. Lit., I was wishing; but the imperfect here has a tentative force, implying the wish begun, but stopped at the outset by some antecedent consideration which renders it impossible, so that, practically, it was not entertained at all. So Paul of Onesimus: “Whom I could have wished ( ἐβουλόμην ) to keep with me,” if it had not been too much to ask (Philemon 1:13). Paul would wish to save his countrymen, even at such sacrifice, if it were morally possible. Others, however, explain the imperfect as stating an actual wish formerly entertained. [source]
Emphatic position of εν κακος humeis in contrast to these piddlers. καλοποιεω Mē and the aorist subjunctive is a prohibition against beginning an act (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 851-4). It is a late verb and means to behave badly in, to be cowardly, to lose courage, to flag, to faint, It occurs in Polybius. The late verb αγατοποιεω kalopoieō to do the fair (kalos) or honourable thing occurs nowhere else in the N.T., but is in the lxx and a late papyrus. Paul uses to kalon poiein in 2 Corinthians 13:7; Galatians 6:9; Romans 7:21 with the same idea. He has agathopoieō to do good, in 1 Timothy 6:18. [source]