2 Corinthians 13:8

8 For we cannot do a thing against the truth, but only for it.

2 Corinthians 13:8 Meaning and Commentary

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth
The apostles had no power, nor could they, nor did they desire to exercise any against such who received the truth of the Gospel in the love of it; who continued in it, walked in it, and held it fast; who worshipped God in Spirit and in truth, and who walked uprightly, and as became the truth; for as the law is not made for such persons, but the reverse, so the authority the apostles had received from Christ was not to be exercised upon such:

but for the truth:
for the sake of defending the truth against those that dropped, denied, and opposed it; and for the honour of it, by chastising, correcting, reproving, censuring, and punishing such, who either contradicted it, or caused it to be blasphemed and spoken evil of.

2 Corinthians 13:8 In-Context

6 I trust you will know that we are not failures.

7 We pray to God that you will do no wrong - not in order to show that we are a success, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to be failures.

8 For we cannot do a thing against the truth, but only for it.

9 We are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And so we also pray that you will become perfect.

10 That is why I write this while I am away from you; it is so that when I arrive I will not have to deal harshly with you in using the authority that the Lord has given me - authority to build you up, not to tear you down.