1This will be my third visit to you. Scripture says, ‘Every matter must be proved by the words of two or three witnesses.’ (De 19:15)2I already warned you during my second visit. I now say it again while I’m away. When I return, I won’t spare those who sinned earlier. I won’t spare any of the others either.3You are asking me to prove that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you. He is powerful among you.4It is true that Christ was nailed to the cross because he was weak. But Christ lives by God’s power. In the same way, we share his weakness. But by God’s power we will live with Christ as we serve you.5Take a good look at yourselves to see if you are really believers. Test yourselves. Don’t you realise that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test!6I hope you will discover that I haven’t failed the test.7I pray to God that you won’t do anything wrong. I don’t pray so that people will see that I have passed the test. Instead, I pray this so that you will do what is right, even if it seems I have failed.8I can’t do anything to stop the truth. I can only work for the truth.9I’m glad when I am weak but you are strong. I pray that there will be no more problems among you.10That’s why I write these things before I come to you. Then when I do come, I won’t have to be hard on you when I use my authority. The Lord gave me the authority to build you up. He didn’t give it to me to tear you down.
Final greetings
11Finally, brothers and sisters, be joyful! Work to make things right with one another. Help one another and agree with one another. Live in peace. And the God who gives love and peace will be with you.12Greet one another with a holy kiss.13All God’s people here send their greetings.14May the grace shown by the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May the love that God has given us be with you. And may the sharing of life brought about by the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13
English Standard Version
Final Warnings
1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (Nu 35:30; De 19:15; 2Co 12:14)2I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— (1Co 4:21; 2Co 10:2; 2Co 12:21; 2Co 13:10)3since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. (Mt 10:20; 1Co 5:4; 2Co 10:4)4For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. (Ro 1:4; Ro 6:4; Ro 6:8; 2Co 12:10; Php 2:7; 1Pe 3:18)5Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (Ro 8:10; 1Co 11:28; Ga 4:19; Ga 6:4)6I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.7But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. (1Co 4:10; 2Co 4:12; 2Co 12:5; 2Co 12:9; 2Co 13:11; Eph 4:12; 1Th 3:10)10For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. (2Co 2:3; 2Co 10:8; Tit 1:13)
Final Greetings
11Finally, brothers,[1] rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,[2] agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (Mr 9:50; Lu 6:40; Ro 12:16; Ro 15:33)12Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Ro 16:16)13All the saints greet you. (Php 4:22)14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (Ro 16:20; Php 2:1; Jud 1:21)