2 Corinthians 5:13 (ASV)

Passage

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

Nearby Context

2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:12 We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;

2 Corinthians 5:15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "whether", "beside", "ourselves", "sober", and "mind". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "whether" and "beside", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "We are not again commending ourselves unto..." into verse 14's "For the love of Christ constraineth us...", so "whether" and "beside" belong inside that flow. In 2 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "whether" and "beside" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.