2 Corinthians 13:4

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

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian church during a tense confrontation where they demand proof of his apostolic authority and Christ’s presence among them. He speaks at a moment of institutional reckoning, urging them to verify their standing in the faith.

The words — ἐσταυρώθη (estaurōthē) = He was crucified and ἀσθενείᾳ (astheneia) = weakness. The text states Christ’s crucifixion occurred within the sphere of weakness, yet his ongoing life is sustained by divine power.

The thread — The crucifixion-to-life pattern appears in 1 Peter 3:18, where Christ was put to death in the flesh yet made alive in the spirit, and in Romans 6:4, which links burial with Christ to resurrection life. Paul also echoes this dynamic in 2 Corinthians 10:3 by contrasting fleshly existence with Spirit-driven operation.

Why it lands — The text asserts that believers share Christ’s weakness but will share his resurrection life through God’s power. It demands self-examination to confirm whether Christ’s presence is genuinely active within the community.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,
Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
Romans 6:8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.
2 Timothy 2:11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
1 Corinthians 2:3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
1 Corinthians 15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
Philippians 2:7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
Luke 22:43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.