2 Corinthians 13:9

2 Corinthians 13:9 Meaning and Explanation

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

King James Version (KJV)

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Paul rejoices to be weak if it means the Corinthians are strong, and his deepest wish is their full maturity.

What Does 2 Corinthians 13:9 Mean?

Paul welcomes his own weakness when it serves their strength. He has no jealousy for status; his joy is in their flourishing. And he names his great desire plainly: their perfection, their being made complete and whole in the faith.

Love measures success by another's growth, not its own glory. Paul would spend himself, and gladly be the lesser, so that the Corinthians might be strong. This is the heart of God toward His children, delighting not in our dependence on any human leader but in our maturing into the fullness Christ intends. To pray for someone's wholeness is among the purest forms of love.

2 Corinthians 13:9 in the Original Language

katartisis (κατάρτισις), 'perfection' -- being restored to wholeness and fully equipped, like a thing mended and made complete.

Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 13:9

What does 2 Corinthians 13:9 mean?

Paul rejoices to be weak if it means the Corinthians are strong, and his deepest wish is their full maturity.

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