2 Corinthians 13:9

"For we rejoice when we are weak, and ye are strong. For this also we pray for even your perfecting." "For most certainly," he says, "we cannot do any thing against the truth, that is, punish you if you are well pleasing [to God]; besides, because we cannot, we therefore do not wish it, and even desire the contrary. Nay, we are particularly glad of this very thing, when we find you giving us no occasion to show that power of ours for punishment. For even if the doing of such things shows men glorious and approved and strong; still we desire the contrary, that ye should be approved and unblamable, and that we should never at any time reap the glory thence arising."

Wherefore he says, "For we are glad when we are weak." What is, "are weak?" "When we may be thought weak." Not when we are weak, but when we are thought weak; for they were thought so by their enemies, because they displayed not their power of punishing. "But still we are glad, when your behavior is of such a sort as to give us no pretence for punishing you. And it is a pleasure to us to be in this way considered weak, so that only ye be blameless;" wherefore he adds, "and ye are strong," that is, "are approved, are virtuous. And we do not only wish for this, but we pray for this, that ye may be blameless, perfect, and afford us no handle."

This is paternal affection, to prefer the salvation of the disciples before his own good name. This is the part of a soul free from vainglory; this best releaseth from the bonds of the body and makes one to rise aloft from earth to heaven, the being pure from vain-glory; just as therefore the contrary leadeth unto many sins.

These words show the apostle's strong devotion to the Corinthians, for the meaning of his words is as follows: do not think that I grieve because I cannot demonstrate my power over you in the event that you do not stumble. On the contrary, I am very glad when I myself am "weak," that is, am considered weak, as one who shows no power in punishing you, and when you are "strong," that is, virtuous and free from falls.

The meaning of his words is as follows: I not only desire this, but also pray that you may be blameless and innocent, that is, perfect, giving no occasion for punishment.

Then when he says, For we are glad, he removes the false suspicion on account of the joy conceived over their good. First, he mentions the joy he conceives over their innocence; secondly, the prayer he utters for their perfection (v. 9b).

He says therefore: we pray that you may appear approved, but we infirm; and this is clear from our emotion, because we rejoice that some among you are good and innocent, thus taking from us the power to judge and making us seem weak; and this is what he says: For we are glad when we are weak, i.e., not exercising our power, and you are strong, i.e., acting so well and overcoming vices that you take away our power to judge. For when a person does evil, he subjects himself to the power of a judge; but by acting well, he casts it away from him: "Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval" (Rom. 13:3); "We are weak, but you are strong" (1 Cor. 4:10). Concerning that joy, it says in Phil. (2:17): "I am glad and rejoice with you all."

And not only do we rejoice in these things, but besides this what we pray for is your improvement. For in natural things we notice that each natural thing tends towards its own perfection, for which is had a natural desire; hence, to each thing is given the natural power to enable it to attain to its perfection. But God gives man grace, by which he may attain to his ultimate and perfect consummation, i.e., happiness, towards which he has a natural desire. Hence, when a person does not tend toward perfection, it is a sign that he does not have a sufficiency of God's grace. Therefore, the Apostle, in order that they might grow in grace, prays that they be perfected: "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment" (Phil. 1:9); "That you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Eph. 6:13).