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)
Apostolic Prayer or Apostolic Self-Denial?
This verse captures Paul’s ethical intensity and rhetorical genius. He does not simply express a desire for the Corinthians to avoid evil; he prays for it (εὔχομαι), not for his own vindication, but for their moral excellence—even if it means appearing unapproved himself.
Grammatically, the verse hinges on final clauses introduced by ἵνα, purposefully shaping the logic of Paul’s prayer. Each verb form and clause bears the weight of ethical and theological tension.
The Architecture of Final Clauses
Two parallel ἵνα-clauses form the hinge of Paul’s paradox:
- οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν – “not that we may appear approved”
- ἀλλ’ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε – “but that you may do what is good”
Both use the subjunctive mood—not merely potential but oriented toward intentionality and divine purpose.
Parsing the Soul of the Sentence
See the highlighted verbal forms:
Each subjunctive expresses an intentional outcome, hinging on Paul’s prayer—not for appearances, but for transformation. He even accepts seeming ἀδόκιμοι (“unapproved”) for the sake of their καλόν.
Wordplay on Δόκιμος and Ἀδόκιμος
The contrast between δόκιμος (“approved, tested”) and ἀδόκιμος (“unapproved, failed the test”) adds a punch of irony. Paul is willing to appear a failure if it means the Corinthians actually live rightly.
- δόκιμοι φανῶμεν (subjunctive, aorist passive) — “that we might appear approved”
- ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν (subjunctive, present active) — “we might be as unapproved”
The antithesis is not only lexical but ethical: appearance vs. reality.
The Power of Μὴ + Infinitive
The phrase μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν reveals Paul’s desire that they commit “no evil.” Here, ποιῆσαι is an aorist infinitive used with μὴ, expressing the negative aim of the prayer.
This usage—μὴ + aorist infinitive—is often employed in wishes, prayers, and commands, especially in optative or deliberative tone.
Paul’s Prayer Ethics
Paul’s logic is spiritually subversive: his personal vindication matters less than their righteousness. This is expressed grammatically by:
- Shifting the subject of prayer from self to others
- Using ἵνα for purpose, not potential
- Accepting negative perception (ὡς ἀδόκιμοι) for greater moral gain
Such syntax reflects a radical ethic of apostolic service.
Ethics Beyond Appearance
The grammar of this verse is more than structure—it is ethos. Through layered subjunctives, negated infinitives, and a bold contrast between seeming and being, Paul teaches that true approval is doing what is right, not seeming to be right.
In the end, “that you may do what is good” (ἵνα ποιῆτε τὸ καλόν) outweighs any desire that “we appear approved.”
This is grammar in service of humility.
