2 Corinthians 13:8

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οὐ γὰρ δυνάμεθά τι κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας, ἀλλʼ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀληθείας.

Transliteration

Ou gar dynametha ti kata tēs alētheias, all' hyper tēs alētheias.

Grammar Details

• *Ou*: negative particle - not
• *gar*: explanatory particle - for
• *dynametha*: present, indicative, middle/passive, 1st person plural - we are able
• *ti*: indefinite pronoun, accusative, neuter, singular - anything
• *kata*: preposition + genitive - against
• *tēs alētheias*: article + noun, genitive, feminine, singular - the truth
• *all'*: adversative conjunction - but
• *hyper*: preposition + genitive - for/on behalf of

Word Meanings

• *dynametha*: are able/can/have power
• *kata*: against/opposed to/contrary to
• *alētheias*: truth/reality/genuineness
• *hyper*: for/on behalf of/in support of

Referenced Verses

• Num 16:28-35 : 28 Then Moses said,“This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. 29 If these men die a natural death, or if they share the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD does something entirely new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up along with all that they have, and they go down alive to the grave, then you will know that these men have despised the LORD. 31 When he had finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households, and all Korah’s men, and all their goods. 33 They and all that they had went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed over them. So they perished from among the community. 34 All the Israelites who were around them fled at their cry, for they said,“What if the earth swallows us too?” 35 Then a fire went out from the LORD and devoured the 250 men who offered incense.
• 1 Kgs 22:28 : 28 Micaiah said,“If you really do safely return, then the LORD has not spoken through me.” Then he added,“Take note, all you people.”
• 2 Kgs 1:9-9 : 9 The king sent a captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. The captain went up to him, while he was sitting on the top of a hill. He told him,“Prophet, the king says,‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah replied to the captain,“If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!” Fire then came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers. 11 The king sent another captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. He went up and told him,“Prophet, this is what the king says,‘Come down at once!’” 12 Elijah replied to them,“If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!” Fire from God came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers. 13 The king sent a third captain and his fifty soldiers. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. He begged for mercy,“Prophet, please have respect for my life and for the lives of these fifty servants of yours.
• 2 Kgs 2:23-25 : 23 He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys came out of the city and made fun of him, saying,“Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!” 24 When he turned around and saw them, he called God’s judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces. 25 From there he traveled to Mount Carmel and then back to Samaria.
• Prov 21:30 : 30 There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD.
• Prov 26:2 : 2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.
• Mark 9:39 : 39 But Jesus said,“Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me.
• Mark 16:17-19 : 17 These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and whatever poison they drink will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick and they will be well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
• Luke 9:49-56 : 49 On the Right Side John answered,“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him,“Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” 51 Rejection in Samaria Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers on ahead of him. As they went along, they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance for him, 53 but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. 54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said,“Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went on to another village.
• Acts 4:28-30 : 28 to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. 29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, 30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
• Acts 5:1-9 : 1 The Judgment on Ananias and Sapphira Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said,“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!” 5 When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. 6 So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. 8 Peter said to her,“Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said,“Yes, that much.” 9 Peter then told her,“Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” 10 At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.
• Acts 13:3-9 : 3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off. 4 Paul and Barnabas Preach in Cyprus So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived in Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.(Now they also had John as their assistant.) 6 When they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But the magician Elymas(for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul(also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at him 10 and said,“You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness– will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!” Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord.
• Acts 19:11-17 : 11 The Seven Sons of Sceva God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying,“I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.) 15 But the evil spirit replied to them,“I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.
• 1 Cor 5:4-5 : 4 When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
• 2 Cor 10:8 : 8 For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.
• 2 Cor 13:10 : 10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority– the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
• 1 Tim 1:20 : 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.
• Heb 2:3-4 : 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.