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2 Corinthians 4:13

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
2 Corinthians 4:13 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
  • KJV 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;
  • BSB 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,
  • NASB But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
  • NLT But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Faith naturally leads to bold speech, so Paul preaches because he believes. Quoting Psalm 116, he ties his ministry to the same spirit of faith found in Scripture.

Overview

Paul cites Psalm 116:10 to show that genuine faith cannot stay silent but compels confession and proclamation. He shares 'the same spirit of faith' as the psalmist and as all believers, and this God-given confidence sustains him amid suffering. Because he trusts the God who raises the dead, he continues to speak the gospel.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Ps 116:10I believed, therefore I said, “I was greatly afflicted.”
  • Heb 11:1–40Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
  • 2 Cor 3:12Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
  • Prov 21:28A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
  • 1 Cor 12:9to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
  • 2 Pet 1:1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
  • Acts 15:11But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
  • Rom 1:12that is, that I with you may be encouraged in you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

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Commentaries & study tools

Christ at the center

In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.

How 2 Corinthians 4:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.