2 Corinthians 13:7 Commentary and Bible Study

He prays that they will do no evil. In other words that they will be very concerned for personal righteousness and for the protection of the word of God. This is his overriding concern, even if his own reputation suffers in the process. He longs that they would excel in righteousness, for this will bring glory to Christ whose disciples they are. Pauls does not say this because he hopes to be vindicated as a side-effect, as if their behaviour would bring credit to him. It is not, after all, a round-about way of boosting himself. He is able to entirely set aside his own interests and to desire something good for them. They must accept that he is speaking the truth when he says this and not allow their suspicions to poison their view of his motives. However he does not say, ‘though we be reprobates’, but ‘though we be as reprobates’, as if we failed the test. He grants this only in the eyes of men, whose opinion he sets little store by. He will never for a moment let go of the fact that, in truth, he is something very different. In truth, he is loved by God and chosen by him. Knowing this, he is able to bear the contrary opinion of men, since they can do nothing to change God mind about him.