What Does 2 Corinthians 13:7 Mean in the King James?
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Doing good is the point; making the messenger appear approved is not.
THE MEANING
This prayer speaks over your life now: that you do no evil and do what is good, even when that does not make the speaker look approved. The speaker may appear to fail the test, while your good remains the thing being prayed for.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that your good only counts when it proves the person speaking for you is worthy.
THE ROOT
δόκιμοι
dokimoi
GROWS FROM
δοκιμ-
dokim-
To test, examine, or prove genuine.
The verse sets δόκιμοι (dokimoi, “approved”) beside ἀδόκιμοι (adokimoi, “rejected as unfit”), the same root with a negating prefix. The speaker’s standing may fail while the hearer’s good remains the prayer’s aim.
ALSO GROWS
dokimazō: To test, examine, prove.
δοκιμάζω
This branch shows that approval carries the sense of being examined and found genuine, not merely looking approved.
dokimē: Proof; tested character.
δοκιμή
The focus falls on what holds up under testing, rather than on the speaker’s reputation.
adokimos: Unapproved; rejected as unfit.
ἀδόκιμος
This is the word family behind “reprobates”: rejection and approval sit on opposite sides of the same test.
THE PATTERN
The integrity of an action can remain clear even when the person associated with it is misjudged or discredited.
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.THE THREAD
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.“Approved” here is δόκιμος (dokimos, “approved”), from the same Greek word family as the word in the current verse. Romans shows approval following a life of service; this prayer makes clear that the speaker’s approval is not the reason the hearer does good.
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