2 Corinthians 4:13

And in keeping with what is written, “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church from the middle of a passage (vv. 7–15) where he describes death at work in him and life at work in them, grounded in God's raising of Jesus.

The words — πνεῦμα (pneuma, "spirit") paired with πίστις (pistis, "faith") forms the compound "the same spirit of faith," which Paul presents as a present possession (ἔχοντες, "having") rather than an aspiration.

The thread — The quoted line is Psalm 116:10, where the psalmist speaks out of affliction after trusting God; the broader believe–speak pattern connects to Hebrews 11:1's definition of faith as assurance and 2 Corinthians 3:12's boldness rooted in that hope.

Why it lands — The verse removes faith from the private interior and makes it a public act: to believe is to speak, and Paul holds the Corinthians to that standard.

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

ἜχοντεςEchontesHaving δὲdehowever τὸtothe αὐτὸautosame πνεῦμαpneumaspirit τῆςtēs<the>πίστεωςpisteōsof faith κατὰkataaccording to τὸtothat γεγραμμένον·gegrammenonwritten:ἐπίστευσα,episteusaI believed,διὸdiotherefore ἐλάλησα,elalēsaI have spoken,καὶkaialso ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselves πιστεύομεν,pisteuomenbelieve,διὸdiotherefore καὶkaialso λαλοῦμεν·laloumenspeak;

King James Version

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Cross-references

Psalms 116:10 I believed, therefore I said, “I am greatly afflicted.”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
Proverbs 21:28 A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
Acts 15:11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”
Romans 1:12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: