2 Corinthians 13

Final Warnings and Greetings

1 I will come to you for the third time. “Every case must be proved by two or three witnesses.” 2 When I was with you the second time, I gave a warning to those who had sinned. Now I am away from you, and I give a warning to all the others. When I come to you again, I will not be easy with them.3 You want proof that Christ is speaking through me. My proof is that he is not weak among you, but he is powerful.

4 It is true that he was weak when he was killed on the cross, but he lives now by God’s power. It is true that we are weak in Christ, but for you we will be alive in Christ by God’s power.
5 Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. You know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test.6 But I hope you will see that we ourselves have not failed the test.7 We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. It is not important to see that we have passed the test, but it is important that you do what is right, even if it seems we have failed.8 We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.9 We are happy to be weak, if you are strong, and we pray that you will become complete.

10 I am writing this while I am away from you so that when I come I will not have to be harsh in my use of authority. The Lord gave me this authority to build you up, not to tear you down.

11 Now, brothers and sisters, I say good-bye. Live in harmony. Do what I have asked you to do. Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet each other with a holy kiss.

13 All of God’s holy people send greetings to you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13

Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth

1 This is the third time I am coming to visitt you. By the testimonytof two or three witnesses every matter will be established.s2 I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,t3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. Het is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.5 Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you – unless, indeed, you fail the test!t6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!t7 Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test,t but so that you may do what is rightt even if we may appear to have failed the test.t8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.9 For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.t

10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrivet I may not have to deal harshly with yout by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

Final Exhortations and Greetings

11 Finally, brothers and sisters,t rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.12 s Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowshipt of the Holy Spirit be with you all.s