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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063}{G2532} though {G1487} he was crucified {G4717} through {G1537} weakness {G769}, yet {G235} he liveth {G2198} by {G1537} the power {G1411} of God {G2316}. For {G1063} we {G2249} also {G2532} are weak {G770} in {G1722} him {G846}, but {G235} we shall live {G2198} with {G4862} him {G846} by {G1537} the power {G1411} of God {G2316} toward {G1519} you {G5209}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For although he was executed on a stake in weakness, now he lives by God’s power. And we too are weak in union with him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God’s power.

Berean Standard Bible

For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.

American Standard Version

for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Corinthians 13:4 profoundly articulates the paradox of divine power manifested through apparent human weakness, a central theological theme woven throughout Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. The verse first establishes this principle through the example of Jesus Christ, who, though crucified in a state of human vulnerability, was raised and lives by the omnipotent power of God. Paul then applies this divine pattern directly to his own apostolic ministry and that of his co-workers, asserting that while they too operate from a position of human weakness in their service to Christ, they anticipate and experience God's life-giving power working through them for the spiritual benefit and edification of the Corinthian church.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated in the concluding chapter of Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians, a letter deeply concerned with defending his apostolic authority and the authenticity of his ministry against various detractors, likely "false apostles" who boasted in worldly credentials and eloquent rhetoric. Paul is preparing the Corinthian church for his third visit, and his tone shifts from defense to warning and exhortation. He assures them that he will not "spare" those who persist in sin, but he grounds this authority not in human might or punitive force, but in the very pattern of Christ's own self-emptying and resurrection power. The immediate verses (2 Corinthians 13:1-3) speak of Paul's intention to come with full authority, an authority that the Corinthians had previously questioned due to his humble appearance and suffering. Verse 4 serves as the theological bedrock for his authority, demonstrating that his perceived weakness is, in fact, an alignment with Christ's pathway to power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Corinth was a bustling, cosmopolitan hub in the Roman Empire, renowned for its wealth, trade, and diverse philosophical schools. Corinthian society, heavily influenced by Hellenistic culture, valued public speaking, impressive displays of wisdom, and outward demonstrations of power and prestige. Paul's opponents in Corinth, often referred to as "super-apostles" (cf. [2 Corinthians 11:5](/2_corinthians/11-5 "2 Corinthians 11:5 - Super-Apostles")), likely conformed to these cultural expectations, presenting themselves with rhetorical flair and boasting of their spiritual experiences or Jewish heritage. In contrast, Paul's ministry was characterized by suffering, humility, and a lack of worldly eloquence, which his critics exploited as evidence of his supposed weakness and lack of true apostolic authority (cf. [2 Corinthians 10:10](/2_corinthians/10-10 "2 Corinthians 10:10 - Paul's Appearance")). This verse directly addresses that cultural clash, re-framing weakness as the very channel for divine power.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme of [2 Corinthians](/2_corinthians/1 "The Second Letter to the Corinthians") is the paradox of strength in weakness, particularly as it relates to authentic Christian ministry. This verse encapsulates several key aspects of this theme: the **cruciform pattern of Christ's life** (humiliation leading to exaltation), the **apostolic identification with Christ's suffering** (Paul's willingness to embrace weakness as a mark of genuine ministry), and the **manifestation of God's power through human frailty**. Paul consistently argues that God's power is not hindered by human inadequacy but is often most powerfully revealed through it, as seen in his personal testimony in [2 Corinthians 12:9-10](/2_corinthians/12-9-10 "2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh"). This redefines what true spiritual authority and effectiveness look like, shifting the focus from human capability to divine enablement.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **weakness (Greek, _asthéneia'_):** This term (G769) refers to feebleness, infirmity, or lack of strength, whether physical, mental, or moral. In the context of Christ's crucifixion, it speaks to His human vulnerability and the apparent powerlessness of His death. For Paul, it signifies his own human limitations, suffering, and lack of worldly impressive qualities, which his opponents used to discredit him. It is not a moral failing, but a state of human frailty that God chooses to work through.
* **crucified (Greek, _stauróō'_):** This verb (G4717) means to impale on the cross. It emphasizes the specific, humiliating, and agonizing manner of Christ's death. From a human perspective, crucifixion was the ultimate demonstration of weakness, defeat, and public shame, reserved for criminals and slaves. Paul uses this word to highlight the profound paradox: the most extreme form of human weakness became the means of God's most powerful act of salvation.
* **power (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** This noun (G1411) denotes inherent force, strength, or ability, and often refers to miraculous power or a miracle itself. It stands in stark contrast to "weakness." In this verse, it refers to God's omnipotent, life-giving power, which was supremely demonstrated in Christ's resurrection and is now at work through Paul's ministry. It is the divine energy that overcomes all human limitation and apparent defeat.
* **live (Greek, _záō'_):** This verb (G2198) means to live, be alive, or to have life. It refers to the resurrected life of Christ and, by extension, the spiritual vitality and effective ministry that Paul and his co-workers experience. It signifies not merely existence, but active, dynamic life, empowered by God's Spirit, in contrast to the death and weakness that preceded it.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For though he was crucified through weakness":** This clause refers to Jesus Christ. His crucifixion, a public and humiliating execution, was the ultimate display of human vulnerability and apparent powerlessness. From a human perspective, it seemed to be a defeat, a sign of weakness, as He allowed Himself to be subjected to the ultimate indignity and suffering without resistance.
* **"yet he liveth by the power of God":** This is the profound paradox. Despite the weakness of the cross, Christ's death was not the end. God's omnipotent power intervened, raising Him from the dead and granting Him eternal life. This demonstrates that God's power is not constrained by human weakness but is most gloriously revealed through it, transforming apparent defeat into ultimate triumph.
* **"For we also are weak in him":** Paul draws a direct parallel between Christ's experience and his own apostolic ministry. He and his fellow apostles embrace and operate within human weakness, identifying with Christ's humility and suffering. This weakness is "in him," meaning it is a weakness experienced in union with Christ, not a deficiency of faith or character, but a deliberate alignment with the path of the crucified Savior.
* **"but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you":** Just as Christ's weakness led to His resurrection life by God's power, Paul asserts that their weakness will also lead to "life" – spiritual vitality, effective ministry, and perhaps even ultimate resurrection life – which will be manifested "with him" (in union with Christ) and "by the power of God." Crucially, this power is directed "toward you," meaning it is for the benefit and edification of the Corinthian church, demonstrating that God's power works through His humble servants for the good of His people.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Paradox**, which is its central literary and theological device. The juxtaposition of "crucified through weakness" and "liveth by the power of God" highlights a fundamental truth of the gospel: God's greatest strength is revealed through what appears to be ultimate weakness. This paradox is then mirrored in the second half of the verse, creating a **Parallelism** between Christ's experience and the apostles' ministry ("he was crucified... he liveth" vs. "we are weak... we shall live"). The **Juxtaposition** of "weakness" (ἀσθένεια) and "power" (δύναμις) is stark and intentional, serving to underscore the divine nature of the strength at work. Furthermore, the phrase "in him" (ἐν αὐτῷ) for Paul's weakness and "with him" (σὺν αὐτῷ) for their future life indicates a profound **Identification** with Christ, emphasizing that the apostles' experiences are not merely analogous but are deeply intertwined with Christ's own journey of suffering and triumph.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse beautifully encapsulates the theology of the cross, asserting that God's ultimate power is not found in worldly might or human self-sufficiency, but in the paradoxical path of humility, suffering, and self-sacrifice, perfectly exemplified by Christ's crucifixion. It challenges conventional notions of strength and success, redefining them through a divine lens where weakness becomes the very conduit for God's life-giving power. This principle extends beyond Christ to His followers, particularly those in ministry, demonstrating that authentic spiritual authority and effectiveness flow not from human prowess but from a radical dependence on God, allowing His power to be made perfect in human frailty. It underscores that the gospel is not about human achievement, but about divine enablement, transforming what appears to be defeat into victory for the glory of God and the edification of His church.

* [1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Grace in Weakness")
* [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This profound verse offers immense encouragement and a radical reorientation for believers today. In a world that often values strength, success, and self-sufficiency, 2 Corinthians 13:4 reminds us that God's economy operates on an entirely different principle. Our effectiveness in God's service, our spiritual vitality, and our ability to impact others for Christ are not dependent on our own impressive qualities, talents, or outward displays of power. Instead, they are rooted in our willingness to acknowledge and even embrace our human weakness, allowing it to become the very channel through which God's omnipotent power flows. When we feel inadequate, overwhelmed, or face challenges that expose our limitations, this verse calls us to find comfort and strength in knowing that God's power is made perfect in our weakness, just as it was in Christ and in His apostles. It invites us to cultivate a posture of humility and radical dependence on God, trusting that His life and power will be manifest in and through us, not for our own glory, but for the benefit of His church and the advancement of His kingdom.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically define "strength" in your personal life, your work, or your spiritual walk? Does this definition align with the paradox presented in 2 Corinthians 13:4?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry do you feel particularly weak or inadequate? How might God desire to demonstrate His power precisely through those perceived weaknesses?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a greater reliance on God's power rather than your own abilities or resources?**
* **How does embracing your weakness, in identification with Christ, change your perspective on suffering, failure, or opposition?**

### FAQ

**What does Paul mean by "weakness" in this context, both for Christ and for himself?**

Answer: For Christ, "weakness" refers to His human vulnerability and the apparent powerlessness of His crucifixion. From a worldly perspective, His death on a cross was a sign of utter defeat and shame, not strength. Yet, it was the chosen means by which God accomplished salvation. For Paul, "weakness" refers to his own human frailty, suffering, humble appearance, and lack of worldly eloquence or impressive credentials that his opponents boasted in. It is not a moral failing or a lack of faith, but a state of human limitation and vulnerability that God deliberately uses as a vessel for His power. Paul often highlights his own struggles and infirmities (like his "thorn in the flesh" in [2 Corinthians 12:7-10](/2_corinthians/12-7-10 "2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's Thorn and God's Grace")) to demonstrate that God's power is made perfect in his weakness.

**How does Christ's crucifixion demonstrate "weakness" yet lead to "life by the power of God"?**

Answer: Christ's crucifixion was the ultimate act of self-emptying and vulnerability. He allowed Himself to be subjected to the most humiliating and painful death, appearing utterly powerless in the hands of His enemies. From a human viewpoint, it was a profound weakness, a defeat. However, this apparent weakness was the very means by which God's redemptive plan unfolded. The "life by the power of God" refers to Christ's glorious resurrection and subsequent exaltation. It demonstrates that God's power is not hindered by human limitation or death but is able to transform the deepest weakness and defeat into ultimate triumph and eternal life. The cross, though a symbol of weakness, became the conduit for God's unparalleled power to conquer sin and death.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Second Corinthians 13:4 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the profound paradox of the cross and resurrection. Christ's crucifixion, viewed by the world as the epitome of weakness and defeat, was in reality the supreme demonstration of God's redemptive power. It was through His voluntary self-emptying and submission to a humiliating death that He disarmed the powers of darkness and secured salvation for humanity (cf. [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph on the Cross")). His "weakness" on the cross was the means by which He conquered sin and death, fulfilling the ancient prophecies of a suffering servant who would bear the iniquities of many (cf. [Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")). The subsequent "living by the power of God" refers to His glorious resurrection, which validated His divine identity and secured His victory over death, offering the promise of new life to all who believe (cf. [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried and Raised with Christ")). Paul's identification with Christ's weakness ("we also are weak in him") is therefore not a mere imitation but a participation in the very pattern of the gospel, where believers, united with Christ, experience God's life-giving power working through their own human frailties, demonstrating that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in and empowers them (cf. [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Romans 6:4

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2 Corinthians 10:4

(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Romans 6:8

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Romans 6:11

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Timothy 2:11

[It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]: