2 Corinthians 13:9; Even Your Perfection

2 Corinthians 13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

The Apostle Paul’s desire was for the Corinthian church to move toward spiritual maturity, to be spiritually equipped and strong. He sought that the sinning ones in their midst will come back to God, repent of their sins and be restored in fellowship with God’s people. Hodge said well, “Paul prayed that they might be perfectly restored from the state of confusion, contention and evil into which they had fallen.”

The sense of the phrase “…we are glad, when we are weak” may well be described in 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.  

If his weakness, humiliation, and reproach resulted in their being strengthened in the things of God, then he was glad. While he thus rejoiced, he also prayed that they might be made complete. [MacDonald]

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we areweak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. (1 Corinthians 4:10). Amen.