The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 13:4 Explained

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.

YLT: for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you.

Darby: for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live with him by God's power towards you,)

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Corinthians 13:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus experienced crucifixion because He was obedient to His Father"s will and therefore did not assert Himself against His enemies who eventually executed Him. He appeared to be very weak to onlookers. However, His "weakness" was in reality an evidence of great strength, strength of commitment to His Father"s will even to death on a cross. The Father rewarded His Son by sustaining Him with supernatural power. Similarly Paul in submitting to God"s will had appeared weak to some in Corinth. Nevertheless God would sustain him too supernaturally. That supernatural power would be evident to the Corinthians when Paul arrived in Corinth and dealt with them as Jesus Christ will deal with His people when He returns (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10).
"It appears that Paul and the Corinthians did not understand "power" in the same way. For them it was on display in an aggressive and a mighty personality. For the apostle, it is seen in weakness." [1]

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 13:1-6 - "prove Your Own Selves"
Once more Paul refers to the charge that his ministry was characterized by weakness. This deeply wounded him. He admitted that in his personal appearance and speech he might be all that his enemies averred, but he contended that weakness did not count when married to the divine. Was not Christ weak when He was crucified? yet through that cross He has exerted His mighty saving power upon myriads! Through the weakness of death He passed to the right hand of power and bestowed the Pentecostal gift. Suppose, then, that the servant shared the weakness of his Lord, might not the divine power work through his poor, weak nature as through the Lord Himself? Let us not always be dwelling on our weakness and limitations; did not the divine fire tremble around the poor shrub of the wilderness?
Paul goes on to urge the Corinthians to prove-that is, to test-themselves by reminding them that unless they are reprobate, the Lord Jesus is truly and literally dwelling within them. This is the fundamental fact in a holy life. When we open our hearts, He enters, and becomes in us the Life of His life and the Light of all our seeing. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 13

1  Paul threatens severity, and the power of his apostleship, against obstinate sinners
5  And, advising them to a trial of their faith,
7  and to a reformation of their sins before his coming,
11  he concludes his epistle with a general exhortation and a prayer

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 13:4

But we shall live with him through the power of God [αλλα ζησομεν συν αυτωι εκ δυναμεως τεου]
So real is Paul‘s sense of his union with Christ. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 13:4 mean?

And for He was crucified in weakness yet He lives by power God’s Also we are weak in Him but we will live with toward you
καὶ γὰρ ἐσταυρώθη ἐξ ἀσθενείας ἀλλὰ ζῇ ἐκ δυνάμεως Θεοῦ καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀσθενοῦμεν ἐν αὐτῷ ἀλλὰ ζήσομεν σὺν εἰς ὑμᾶς

ἐσταυρώθη  He  was  crucified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: σταυρόω  
Sense: to stake, drive down stakes.
ἀσθενείας  weakness 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: ἀσθένεια  
Sense: want of strength, weakness, infirmity.
ἀλλὰ  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἀλλά  
Sense: but.
ζῇ  He  lives 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
δυνάμεως  power 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: δύναμις  
Sense: strength power, ability.
Θεοῦ  God’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
καὶ  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἀσθενοῦμεν  are  weak 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἀσθενέω  
Sense: to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless.
ζήσομεν  we  will  live 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
εἰς  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.