In εὔχομαι δὲ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν (2 Corinthians 13:7), Paul delivers a stunningly paradoxical prayer. Not only is the ethical center of the passage complex — his longing that the Corinthians do good even if it makes him appear disqualified — but the grammar, too, is intricate. The rare optative verb ὦμεν emerges in the final clause, signaling wish, possibility, and rhetorical humility. When Paul employs the optative, he steps into the realm of uncertain volition — a space reserved in Greek for wishes and hypotheticals. But here, it is weaponized with theological and pastoral irony.
Morphological Breakdown
- εὔχομαι {éfchomai, (Erasmian: eúchomai)} –
Root: εὔχομαι
Form: present middle/passive indicative, 1st person singular (deponent)
Lexical Meaning: “I pray,” “I wish”
Contextual Notes: Common verb for prayer or personal desire. Often introduces a clause with a negative optative or subjunctive. - δὲ {the, (Erasmian: dè)} –
Root: δέ
Form: postpositive conjunction
Lexical Meaning: “but,” “and”
Contextual Notes: Adds contrast or mild transition from previous statement. - πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν {pros ton Theón, (Erasmian: pros tón Theón)} –
Root: πρός, Θεός
Form: preposition + accusative masculine singular
Lexical Meaning: “to God”
Contextual Notes: Indicates direction of the prayer. - μὴ ποιῆσαι {mi piísai, (Erasmian: mē poiêsai)} –
Root: ποιέω
Form: aorist active infinitive preceded by negative particle
Lexical Meaning: “not to do”
Contextual Notes: Object of εὔχομαι: Paul’s prayer is that they not do any evil. - ὑμᾶς {imás, (Erasmian: hymâs)} –
Root: σύ
Form: accusative 2nd person plural pronoun
Lexical Meaning: “you”
Contextual Notes: Subject (logical) of the infinitive ποιῆσαι. - κακὸν μηδέν {kakón midén, (Erasmian: kakòn mēdén)} –
Root: κακός, μηδείς
Form: accusative neuter singular adjective + negated pronoun
Lexical Meaning: “nothing evil,” “no evil thing”
Contextual Notes: Double negative construction for emphasis — “no kind of evil at all.” - οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν {ouch ína imís dókimi fanómen, (Erasmian: ouch hína hēmeîs dókimoi phanō̂men)} –
Root: δόκιμος, φαίνομαι
Form: subjunctive clause with negation; aorist passive subjunctive 1st person plural
Lexical Meaning: “not so that we may appear approved”
Contextual Notes: Paul clarifies that his wish is not for his own commendation. - ἀλλ’ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε {all’ ína ymís to kalón piíte, (Erasmian: all’ hína hymeîs tò kalòn poiête)} –
Root: ἀλλά, καλός, ποιέω
Form: final clause with present active subjunctive 2nd person plural
Lexical Meaning: “but that you may do what is good”
Contextual Notes: Final clause showing the true goal of Paul’s prayer. - ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν {imís the os adókimi ómen, (Erasmian: hēmeîs dè hōs adókìmoi ômen)} –
Root: ἀδόκιμος, εἰμί
Form: comparative clause with optative of εἰμί, 1st person plural
Lexical Meaning: “that we might be as unapproved”
Contextual Notes: Optative of indirect discourse or rhetorical wish. The irony is deep: Paul would rather seem disqualified if it results in their goodness.
The Optative Mood: Greek Grammar’s Realm of Wish and Irony
The verb ὦμεν (“we might be”) stands out as an optative — a mood rarely used in the New Testament outside of set prayers or quotations. Its presence here is not accidental. Paul uses the optative to suggest a hypothetical or desired state, introduced by ὡς: “as though we were unapproved.” The irony is piercing. Paul is saying: “Even if we appear as spiritual failures, if it means you are doing the good, then let it be so.” The optative underlines that Paul is not merely describing a fact — he is entertaining a condition he would accept.
In classical Greek, the optative often indicated potentiality or polite wishes. In Koine Greek, it becomes rarer but more emphatic when it appears. Here, it acts as a grammatical marker of pastoral sacrifice. Paul subordinates his apostolic credibility to the moral health of his readers — and he uses grammar to do it.
Ethical Grammar: Purpose Clauses and Priority
Paul structures this verse around two major ἵνα (“in order that”) clauses: not for the sake of his own appearance (οὐχ ἵνα…), but so that they may act rightly (ἀλλ’ ἵνα…). This is more than structure — it is theology in syntax. By aligning verbs of purpose with moral contrasts, Paul underscores Christian ethics as driven by selfless intercession. The optative seals this with rhetorical humility: “If your good makes me seem unapproved, may it be so.”
The Wish That Reveals the Heart
Paul’s grammar is never accidental. The shift from indicative to subjunctive to optative is not just stylistic — it mirrors the movement from present reality, to purpose, to hypothetical surrender. The Greek optative ὦμεν lets us hear not just what Paul wants, but what he is willing to become — for their sake. In this one mood, the apostle’s heart is laid bare.
