2 Corinthians 13:4

Contextual Overview

¹ This will be my third time to visit you. And remember, "For every complaint there must be two or three people to say that they know it is true." ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹ Now come I the thyrd tyme vnto you In the mouth of two or thre witnesses shall every thinge stonde. ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word established." ¹ This is the third time that I am coming to you. ON THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED. ¹ I will come to you for the third time. "Every case must be proved by two or three witnesses." ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word be established. ¹ This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you: By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. "At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word established."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he was: Luke 22:43, Luke 22:44, John 10:18, 1 Corinthians 15:43, Philippians 2:7, Philippians 2:8, Hebrews 5:7, 1 Peter 3:18

yet: Acts 2:36, Acts 4:10-12, Romans 6:4, Romans 6:9, Romans 6:10, Romans 14:9, Ephesians 1:19-23, Philippians 2:9-11, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:22, Revelation 1:17, Revelation 1:18

we also: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, 2 Corinthians 10:3, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:10, 1 Corinthians 2:3

in him: or, with him, Philippians 3:10, 2 Timothy 2:11, 2 Timothy 2:12

but: Acts 3:16, Romans 6:8-11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:5 - earthen vessel Psalms 88:4 - as a man Psalms 110:3 - day Ecclesiastes 8:8 - power Luke 20:38 - for all John 6:57 - even Romans 1:4 - the Son 1 Corinthians 4:10 - we are weak 2 Corinthians 4:10 - that 2 Corinthians 6:7 - the power 2 Corinthians 12:10 - for when 2 Corinthians 13:6 - General Galatians 4:13 - through 1 Thessalonians 2:7 - we 2 Thessalonians 1:12 - the grace

Cross-References

Genesis 4:26
To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord .

Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he named him Enosh. Then it was begun to call on the name of Yahweh.

Genesis 4:26
Seth also had a son, and they named him Enosh. At that time people began to pray to the Lord .

Genesis 4:26
And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time people began to worship the Lord .

Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Genesis 4:26
There was also born a son to Seth, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on Yahweh's name.

Genesis 4:26
To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].

Genesis 4:26
But also a sone was borun to Seth, which sone he clepide Enos; this Enos bigan to clepe inwardli the name of the Lord.

Genesis 4:26
And to Seth, to him also a son hath been born, and he calleth his name Enos; then a beginning was made of preaching in the name of Jehovah.

Genesis 4:26
And to Seth also a son was born, and he called him Enosh. At that time men began to invoke the name of the LORD.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For though he was crucified through weakness,.... Of the human nature; for the nature which Christ assumed was in all things like to ours, excepting sin; it was subject to all sinless infirmities; it was mortal, passible, liable to sufferings, and death, and so he came to be crucified; though not against his will, or without his previous assent; as God, he was able to have prevented his crucifixion if he would; he gave an instance of his power over men, at the time of his apprehension, by striking them down to the ground; and told Pilate his judge at his trial, that he could have no power to crucify him, if it was not given him from above; and he showed his superiority over devils when upon the cross, by spoiling principalities and powers; so that his crucifixion was not owing to want of power as God, but he became capable of it through his weakness as man:

but yet he lives by the power of God; he was raised from the dead by a divine power; by his own power as God, as well as by his Father's, and so was declared to be the Son of God with power; and he lives at the right hand of God as man and Mediator, vested with all power in heaven and in earth; though, in the days of his flesh, he appeared so weak, mean, and despicable: now the apostle mentions this case of our Lord's, to deter the Corinthians from despising him, on account of his outward weakness and meanness; and from hence buoying themselves up, and in which they were encouraged by the false apostles, that he had not, and could not exercise the power he talked of; they had observed what mean figure he made when he was among them; and whatever weight there might be in his letters, yet his bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible; wherefore he sets before them the instance of Christ, who though he appeared very weak in his state of humiliation, yet he now lives in power, to assist and strengthen his ministers, in every branch of their work; and suggests, that as it was with Christ, it was, and would be in some measure with him, and his fellow ministers:

for we also are weak in him: like him, and for his sake, they were subject to infirmities, reproaches, persecutions, and distresses; carried about daily the dying of the Lord Jesus; bore a very great resemblance to him in his state of humiliation; were very much as he was in this world, and bore much for his name's sake; the Alexandrian copy and the Syriac version read, "with him"; being crucified with him, and dead with him:

but we shall live with him by the power of God towards you; which is not to be understood of being raised by Christ to an immortal life, and of living with him in glory; though this is a certain truth, that such who suffer with Christ, shall live and reign, and be glorified together with him; but of the life, power, and efficacy of the ministers of Christ, and of Christ in and with them, displayed in the lively ministration of the word and ordinances, in the vigorous discharge of all the branches of their office; not only in preaching, but in rebuking, admonishing, laying on of censures, and punishing criminals; and especially regards the powerful exertion and use of the apostolic rod; for this life is not only with Christ, or through Christ being in them, notwithstanding all their outward weakness, and by the power of God, which supports them under all, and enables them to perform their work, but is "towards you"; the Corinthians, to be exercised towards them, to be seen among them, and felt by them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For though he was crucified through weakness - Various modes have been adopted of explaining the phrase “through weakness.” The most probable explanation is that which refers it to the human nature which he had assumed Philippians 2:7-8; 1 Peter 3:18, and to the appearance of weakness which he manifested. He did not choose to exert his power. He appeared to his enemies to be weak and feeble. This idea would be an exact illustration of the point before the apostle. He is illustrating his own conduct, and especially in the fact that he had not exerted his miraculous powers among them in the punishment of offenders; and he does it by the example of Christ, who though abundantly able to have exerted his power and to have rescued himself from his enemies, yet was willing to appear weak, and to be crucified. It is very clear:

(1) That the Lord Jesus seemed to his enemies to be weak and incapable of resistance.

(2) That he did not put forth his power to protect his life. He in fact offered no resistance, as if he had no power.

(3) He had a human nature that was especially sensitive, and sensible to suffering; and that was borne down and crushed under the weight of mighty woes; see my notes on Isaiah 53:2-3. From all these causes he seemed to be weak and feeble; and these appear to me to be the principal ideas in this expression.

Yet he liveth - He is not now dead. Though he was crucified, yet he now lives again, and is now capable of exerting his great power He furnishes proof of his being alive, in the success which attends the gospel, and in the miracles which are performed in his name and by his power. There is a living Redeemer in heaven; a Redeemer who is able to exert all the power which he ever exerted when on earth; a Redeemer, therefore, who is able to save the soul; to raise the dead; to punish all his foes.

By the power of God - In raising him from the dead and placing him at his own right hand; see Ephesians 1:19-21. Through the power of God he was brought from the tomb, and has a place assigned him at the head of the universe.

For we also are weak in him - Margin, “with him.” We his apostles, also, are weak in virtue of our connection with him. We are subject to infirmities and trials; we seem to have no power; we are exposed to contempt; and we appear to our enemies to be destitute of strength. Our enemies regard us as feeble; and they despise us.

But we shall live with him ... - That is, we shall show to you that we are alive. By the aid of the power of God we shall show that we are not as weak as our foes pretend; that we are invested with power; and that we are able to inflict the punishment which we threaten. This is one of the numerous instances in which Paul illustrated the case before him by a reference to the example and character of Christ. The idea is, that Christ did not exert his power, and appeared to be weak, and was put to death. So Paul says that he had not exerted his power, and seemed to be weak. But, says he, Christ lives, and is clothed with strength; and so we, though we appear to be weak, shall exert among you, or toward you, the power with which he has invested us, in inflicting punishment on our foes.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 13:4. For though he was crucified through weakness — It is true Christ was crucified, and his crucifixion appeared to be the effect of his weakness; yet even this was not so; he gave up his life, none could take it away from him; and in his last struggle, had he even been deficient in power, he could have had more than twelve legions of angels to support him against the high priest's mob, Matthew 26:53; but how then could the Scripture be fulfilled? And had he not died, how could the human race have been saved?

Yet he liveth by the power of God. — Though he appeared to be crucified through his own weakness, yet he now liveth by the power of God; exerting an almighty energy by which all things are subject to him.

We also are weak in him — Because we are on Christ's side we appear to you as weak as he did to the Jews; but it is not so, for we live with him-under the same influence, and partaking of the same life; manifesting by our preaching and miracles the power of God towards you. While I do not use the rod, I appear to you weak; I will use it, and then you shall find me to be strong.