2 Corinthians 13 4

2 Corinthians 13:4 kjv

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.

2 Corinthians 13:4 nkjv

For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives 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.

2 Corinthians 13:4 niv

For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

2 Corinthians 13:4 esv

For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

2 Corinthians 13:4 nlt

Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God's power.

2 Corinthians 13 verses

2 Corinthians 13 4 Meaning

Jesus was crucified in weakness, but He lives by the power of God. Those who trust in Him are also considered weak in Him, but they will live with Him by God's power.

2 Corinthians 13 4 Context

Second Corinthians chapter 13 continues Paul's final appeal and defense of his apostolic authority to the Corinthian church. In this specific chapter, Paul adopts a more stern tone, indicating his intention to come to Corinth a third time and that if he finds evidence of disobedience or corruption, he will not spare them. This verse directly addresses the potential misconception that Paul's perceived weaknesses, including suffering and humility, were indicative of a lack of power or authenticity. Paul reframes this, contrasting Christ's crucifixion in weakness with His subsequent resurrection by the power of God. He then draws a parallel to himself and the other apostles, who, despite their human weaknesses and sufferings for the Gospel, live and minister by the power of the same God who raised Jesus. The verse serves as a powerful reminder that true spiritual power is not found in human strength or outward appearance, but in God's mighty work through Christ and, by extension, through those who are united with Him.

2 Corinthians 13 4 Word Analysis

• "For" (gar - γάρ): Introduces a reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It links the following clause as justification.

• "to be sure" (menoun - μένουν): Implies a stronger affirmation or continuation, suggesting "nevertheless," "on the contrary," or "assuredly." It can also introduce a stronger point after a concession. Here it strongly asserts the truth of Christ's crucified state.

• "He" (autos - αὐτός): Refers to Jesus Christ.

• "was crucified" (estaurothē - ἐσταυρώθη): The aorist passive indicative of stauros (σταυρός - cross). It signifies a completed action in the past – the definite act of crucifixion. It highlights the objective reality of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross.

• "in weakness" (astheneia - ἀσθένεια): This refers to frailty, infirmity, or lack of strength. In the context of Christ, it points to His voluntary humbling and suffering on the cross, which humanly speaking, appeared as defeat and weakness. It is the opposite of physical power or worldly might.

• "yet" (alla - ἀλλά): A strong adversative conjunction, contrasting the two clauses. It emphasizes the unexpected outcome.

• "He lives" (kaigei - ζῇ): The present active indicative of zaō (ζάω - to live). It emphasizes the present, ongoing reality of Christ's resurrected life.

• "by the power" (ex dynameōs - ἐξ δυνάμεως): "Ex" (ἐξ) indicates the source or origin. "Dynameos" (δυνάμεως) is the genitive case of dynamis (δύναμις), meaning power, ability, or might. This signifies that His life is sustained and manifest by God's inherent power.

• "of God" (tou Theou - τοῦ Θεοῦ): The genitive case of Theos (Θεός), meaning God. The power originates from God.

• "For" (gar - γάρ): Again, introduces an explanatory clause.

• "we also" (kai hēmeis - καὶ ἡμεῖς): "Kai" (καί) means "and" or "also." "Hēmeis" (ἡμεῖς) is the first-person plural pronoun, "we." It includes Paul and his companions in this description.

• "are weak" (asthenomen - ἀσθενοῦμεν): The present active indicative of astheneō (ἀσθενέω - to be weak). This refers to a present state of weakness, suffering, or infirmity, aligning with the struggles the apostles faced in their ministry. It connects to the spiritual understanding of weakness demonstrated by Christ.

• "in Him" (en autō - ἐν αὐτῷ): "En" (ἐν) means "in." "Autō" (αὐτῷ) refers back to Christ. This means their weakness is experienced or located "in Christ" – it is a weakness shared with or characteristic of their union with Christ, or a weakness they possess because of their identity in Him, not a weakness from Him in terms of inability. It could also imply their weakness is relative to Christ's glorious state.

• "yet" (alla - ἀλλά): Another strong adversative conjunction, presenting a contrast.

• "to live with Him" (syn autō zēsomen - σὺν αὐτῷ ζήσομεν): "Syn" (σύν) means "with." "Autō" (αὐτῷ) is "Him" (Christ). "Zēsomen" (ζήσομεν) is the future active indicative of zaō (ζάω), meaning "we shall live." This looks forward to a life lived in union with Christ, either the present spiritual life or the future eternal life.

• "we will live" (ezōmen - ἐσόμεθα / ζήσομεν - likely ζήσομεν from context): Though often translated "we will live," the exact Greek phrasing often cited from Textus Receptus is “elthontos de autou elthontos de pros hymas ouk esomenos adunatos en humin alla dunatos." (which seems like a typo). The critical Greek text often renders it as alla syn autō zōmen ("but with him we live") or alla syn autō zēsomen ("but with him we will live"). The key is living "with Him." The implication is that the means by which they will live with Him is by God's power.

• "by the power" (ek dynameōs - ἐκ δυνάμεως): Again, indicating the source.

• "of God" (tou Theou - τοῦ Θεοῦ): Originating from God.

Word/Phrase Group Analysis:

• "crucified in weakness... lives by the power of God": This is a central paradox in Pauline theology. The cross, humanly a symbol of ultimate weakness and shame, was the very means by which God displayed His supreme power, leading to resurrection and redemption. This concept is foundational to understanding God's work, where His strength is perfected in human infirmity (2 Cor 12:9).
• "we also are weak in Him, yet... live with Him by the power of God": Paul equates the Corinthian believers' experience with Christ's. Their own perceived weaknesses, persecutions, and afflictions are seen as "in Christ." Despite these outward displays of frailty, they are assured that their life, their spiritual vitality, and their future hope are sustained not by their own strength, but by the same divine power that raised Christ from the dead. This highlights the principle that believers' strength and life are found in Christ and His empowering Spirit.
• "in Him" (en autō) vs. "by the power" (ek dynameōs): The phrase "in Him" describes the condition or sphere of their weakness. They are weak as participants in Christ's suffering and humility. The phrase "by the power of God" describes the source of their life. Their life, despite their weakness, comes from God's power, not from their own.

2 Corinthians 13 4 Bonus Section

This verse directly addresses the Corinthian church's potential susceptibility to follow leaders who relied on impressive human eloquence and outward prestige, a common cultural value in the Hellenistic world. Paul is essentially saying, "You are impressed by strength and presence; look at Jesus. He appeared weak but was ultimately victorious by God’s power. My own ministry, though marked by hardship and humility, is similarly empowered by the same divine source. Don't judge authenticity or authority by the world's standards of power." It is a core theological statement about the nature of the Gospel and the believer's participation in it, aligning perfectly with the theme of 2 Corinthians that God’s glory shines brightest through the most broken vessels (2 Cor 4:7). The resurrection of Christ is not merely an historical event but the ongoing demonstration of God’s life-giving power, a power made available to believers through the indwelling Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13 4 Commentary

Paul asserts a divine paradox. Jesus, while physically executed – an act viewed as profound weakness and defeat by the world – is presently alive, sustained by God’s own potent strength. This establishes a pattern for believers. Paul acknowledges that he and other apostles (and by extension, all Christians) also experience human frailty and suffer afflictions for Christ's sake, which may be perceived as weakness. However, this shared experience of weakness, which is embraced "in Christ," does not negate their spiritual vitality. Instead, their very life, both now and in the future union with Christ, is secured and empowered by the same God whose power resurrected Jesus. It’s a powerful reframing that shifts the focus from outward appearance and earthly might to inward reality and God’s sovereign enablement. For the Corinthian believers, this meant that Paul’s apparent weaknesses were not grounds for dismissing him, but rather the very context in which God’s power was demonstrably at work. It underscores that true Christian life and ministry are not characterized by self-sufficiency or inherent strength, but by dependence on and participation in God’s resurrection power, even amidst suffering and perceived weakness.