II Corinthians 13:11 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 13:11 Commentary: Study of , Rejoice, Be Perfected, Peace
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
A study of Paul's final exhortations: rejoice, be perfected, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace, and the promise of God's presence.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul’s concluding exhortations for joy, maturity, comfort, unity, peace, with promise of God’s presence.
- Key words: Λοιπόν (finally), χαίρετε (rejoice/farewell), καταρτίζεσθε (be perfected/restored), παρακαλεῖσθε (be comforted/exhorted), φρονεῖτε (think/have mindset), εἰρηνεύετε (be at peace).
- Main debate: Whether “be perfected” refers to individual sinless perfection or corporate restoration/unity.
- Theological theme: God as God of love and peace; His presence tied to our pursuit of peace.
- Best use: Closing of a letter or sermon; call to church unity and maturity.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
KJV King James Version 1769
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Henceforth, brethren, rejoice; be made perfect, be comforted, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of the love and peace shall be with you;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace. And the God of grace and of love shall be with you.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Resta, hermanos, que tengáis gozo, seáis perfectos, tengáis consolación, sintáis una misma cosa, tengáis paz; y el Dios de paz y de caridad será con vosotros.
Quanto às demais coisas, irmãos, alegrai-vos, sede íntegros, consolai-vos, tenhais um mesmo entendimento, vivei em paz; e o Deus de amor e paz será convosco.
Au reste, frères, soyez dans la joie, perfectionnez-vous, consolez-vous, ayez un même sentiment, vivez en paix; et le Dieu d’ amour et de paix sera avec vous.
Zuletzt, liebe Brüder, freuet euch, seid vollkommen, tröstet euch, habt einerlei Sinn, seid friedsam! so wird der Gott der Liebe und des Friedens mit euch sein.
Voorts, broeders, zijt blijde, wordt volmaakt, zijt getroost, zijt eensgezind, leeft in vrede; en de God der liefde en des vredes zal met u zijn.
Del resto, fratelli, rallegratevi, procacciate la perfezione, siate consolati, abbiate un medesimo sentimento, vivete in pace; e l’Iddio dell’amore e della pace sarà con voi.
Na ostatek, bracia! miejcie się dobrze; doskonałymi bądźcie, cieszcie się, jednomyślnymi bądźcie, w pokoju żyjcie, a Bóg miłości i pokoju będzie z wami. Pozdrówcie jedni drugich świętem pocałowaniem.
Впрочем, братия, радуйтесь, усовершайтесь, утешайтесь, будьте единомысленны, мирны, — и Бог любви и мира будет с вами.
還有末了的話：願弟兄們 都喜樂。要作完全人；要受安慰；要同心合意；要彼此和睦。如此，仁愛 和平的 神 必常與 你們 同在。
Let this be my last word, brothers; be glad; be complete; be comforted; be of the same mind; be at peace with one another: and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 13:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators broadly agree that Paul's closing line in 2 Corinthians functions as a tender farewell after sharp correction. Clarke notes that λοιπόν ('finally') signals 'all that remains', a closing word. The opening χαίρετε carries a double sense: 'rejoice' (Vincent, Cambridge Bible) and 'farewell' (KJV). Both point to joy as the proper response to God's work.
On the main debate, Barnes explicitly argues against reading καταρτίζεσθε as a command for sinless perfection, calling it a wish 'that everything might be in its proper place.' Clarke says 'be compact; get into joint again,' emphasizing corporate restoration. Yet Wesley reads it as 'aspire to the highest degree of holiness', individual and progressive. The consensus is that Paul desires both personal maturity and church unity, as supported by the imperative for 'one mind' (τὸ αὐτὸ φρονεῖτε) and peace (εἰρηνεύετε). The verbs are present-middle imperatives, suggesting ongoing action: let yourselves be continually restored and comforted.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Individual sinless perfection: Wesleyan/holiness tradition; Matthew 5:48; imperative form suggests a attainable command.
- Corporate restoration and unity: Clarke, Calvin, Barnes; context of divisions; καταρτίζω meaning mend/set joint; parallels to 1 Cor 1:10.
- Both individual and corporate: Gill, Matthew Henry; the verse addresses both personal holiness and church harmony as two sides of perfection.
What is clear: Paul commands believers to pursue maturity, unity, and peace, with the promise that the God of love and peace will be present with them.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of χαίρετε | It is a greeting/valediction carrying a wish for happiness or joy. | Some (KJV, Barnes) render it as “farewell”; others (Vincent, Cambridge) stress its primary meaning “rejoice” (used in Phil 4:4). |
| Meaning of καταρτίζεσθε | It implies restoration, mending, or bringing to completion. | Wesley and some holiness traditions see it as a command for individual sinless perfection; Clarke, Calvin, and Barnes understand it as corporate restoration and unity (mending divisions). |
| Relationship between imperatives and promise | There is a link between obedience and the experience of God’s presence. | Some see a direct condition (if you do X, God will be with you); others see it as a natural consequence: walking in peace aligns us with the God of peace. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Second Corinthians is Paul's most personal letter. He defends his apostolic authority, rebukes factionalism (1 Corinthians 1:11-12), and weeps over unrepentant sin (2 Cor 12:21). Verse 11 stands as the crescendo after that tension. The Corinthians were divided by party loyalties and moral failures; many suspected Paul of insincerity.
In the ancient world, letter closings sealed the relationship. Paul draws on the common farewell (χαίρετε) but infuses it with gospel joy, not mere politeness. The command to 'be perfected' (καταρτίζεσθε) evokes mending nets (Matthew 4:21) or setting a dislocated bone. This metaphor would resonate in a church fractured by strife. Edersheim (noted by Vincent) records that departing temple priests used a Sabbath blessing: 'He that has caused His name to dwell in this house cause love, brotherhood, peace, and friendship to dwell among you.' Paul's words echo that blessing, expanded through Christ.
Calvin observes that Paul 'qualifies whatever there has been of sharpness throughout the whole of the epistle.' The sequence of imperatives, joy, restoration, comfort, unity, peace, mirrors the pattern of Christian healing: from individual joy to corporate wholeness. The phrase 'God of love and peace' is rare. In a culture where gods were often associated with strife (the Greek pantheon), Paul identifies the true God as the source of both love (ἀγάπη) and peace (εἰρήνη). Poole notes that 'he is not the God of hatred and strife, but the God of love and peace.'
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Corinthians 13:11. The Greek text is stable across manuscripts. The few differences in English translations (e.g., “farewell” vs. “rejoice”) reflect interpretation of the same word (χαίρετε), not a different underlying reading.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has been treasured as a concise summary of Christian duty and promise. Early monastic communities used it as a rule for communal life: joy, mutual correction, unity, and peace. The Reformers (Calvin, Luther) emphasized the corporate dimension, the apostle healing a wounded congregation through soft words after rebuke. In the Wesleyan revival, verse 11 became a rallying cry for entire sanctification, the “be perfect” command taken as a promise that God could eradicate sin. Modern evangelical Bible studies often pair it with the Trinitarian benediction in verse 14, seeing it as a pattern for church health. It has been sung in hymns of peace and used as a closing prayer in many liturgies.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Rejoice, The Foundation of Christian Life. Paul opens with χαίρετε, a command to joy rooted in the gospel. Before any labor, the heart must be glad in God’s grace.
- Be Perfected, Comforted, of One Mind, and Live in Peace, The Active Pursuit of Maturity and Unity. These four imperatives form a single movement: restoration leads to comfort, unity of thought leads to peace.
- The Promise of Presence, The God of Love and Peace Dwells With Us. The promise is conditional: those who walk in love and peace will know the God who defines them.
Five-point outline
- Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4).
- Be perfected, allow God to set right what is broken.
- Be comforted, receive both consolation and exhortation.
- Be of one mind, pursue shared convictions with humility.
- Live in peace, active peacemaking, not passive avoidance.
Illustration hooks
- A doctor setting a dislocated shoulder: the painful but necessary restoration (καταρτίζω).
- Two musicians tuning their instruments separately before playing together: individual perfection enabling harmony.
- The calm after a family argument when reconciliation begins: peace as more than ceasefire.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “Does God expect me to be perfect? How is that possible?”
- “How can I be of one mind with a Christian who holds different political views?”
- “What if I don’t feel at peace? Is God still with me?”
Leading a Discussion
Paul’s closing words are not a casual sign-off. He writes to a fractured church, and his instructions form a blueprint for healthy Christian community. As you discuss, notice the order: joy first, then restoration, then comfort, then unity, then peace, each flows into the next.
Discussion questions
- Why does Paul begin with “rejoice” (or “farewell”)? How does joy relate to the commands that follow?
- The Greek word for “be perfected” (καταρτίζεσθε) means to mend or set right. Where do you see relationships in your church that need mending?
- “Be of good comfort” (παρακαλεῖσθε) can mean either “receive comfort” or “receive exhortation.” Which do you need more right now?
- Paul says “be of one mind”, does that mean total agreement on every issue? How do we disagree well?
- “Live in peace” is an active verb (εἰρηνεύετε). What specific steps can your small group take to promote peace in your church?
- The promise is that “the God of love and peace will be with you.” How does this promise depend on the preceding commands?
- How does verse 14 (the Trinitarian benediction) expand on the themes of verse 11?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 37:4 | His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him. |
| Genesis 45:24 | So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.” |
| Matthew 1:23 | “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel,” which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” |
| Matthew 5:48 | Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. |
| Mark 9:50 | Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” |
| Mark 10:49 | Jesus stood still and said, “Call him.” They called the blind man, saying to him, “Cheer up! Get up. He is calling you!” |
| Luke 9:61 | Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.” |
| John 17:23 | I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one, that the world may know that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke brings out the force of each Greek term: be perfect means get back into joint, restored to unity; be of good comfort means receive admonition so you may receive comfort. He argues that love and peace cannot live where there are contentions, and if God is not present then the devil and the contentious fill the assembly.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes distinguishes between the obligation to be perfect and the claim that anyone has achieved it. He notes the command proves Christians are bound to pursue perfection, but it does not itself demonstrate that any believer has actually been sinless. The apostle's wish is not evidence of fulfillment.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin observes that Paul softens his earlier sharp reproofs by seasoning them with honey, turning from addressing a few troubled individuals to the whole church. He distinguishes being of one mind (agreement in sentiment) from living in peace (benevolence and heart-union), adding that God is present only where peace is cultivated.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that translating “God of love” as “God of charity” obscures a great Christian truth: all love, whether in God or in people, is His love. The commentator also warns that while we need God’s presence to be at peace, we drive Him away if we do not follow His Spirit’s promptings.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note reads these five commands as a deliberate chain: being perfect leads to comfort, which leads to unity, which leads to peace, and only then does God promise to remain with them. The blessing is conditional on completing each step in order.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads Paul's closing exhortations as a progression toward the presence of God. Each command has a concrete meaning: pursuing perfection in knowledge and holiness, comforting one another, and agreeing in doctrine and worship. Those who do this can expect the God who is love and peace to dwell among them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Paul's word for "farewell" in Greek also means "rejoice," so this closing command returns to the letter's theme of joy. The call to "be perfect" means filling up what is lacking in Christian character, not a one-time achievement. "Be of good comfort" points to the mutual encouragement Paul has been urging.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange points out that Paul's self-defense is not an excuse directed at the
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry focuses on the apostle's parting advice as a recipe for experiencing God's presence: being made complete through unity, finding comfort in hardship, and keeping peace despite disagreements. He notes that living at ease with one another actually brings ease to one's own soul, so the God of love and peace dwells where these practices are followed.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes the Greek word "finally" always carries the sense of something left over, no matter how it is translated. He argues "farewell" likely never means goodbye in the New Testament, suggesting "rejoice" instead, and connects "be perfected" to the Church's unity through the right fitting of all its members in Christ.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley interprets each command as an active pursuit of the highest possible degree. "Be perfect" means striving for the utmost holiness, "be of good comfort" means being fully filled with divine consolation, and "be of one mind" means desiring, laboring, and praying for unity to the greatest extent attainable.