2 Corinthians 13
13
Final Warnings and Greetings
1This will be my third time to visit you. And remember, “For every complaint there must be two or three people to say that they know it is true.”#Quote from Deut. 19:15. 2When I was with you the second time, I gave a warning to those who had sinned. I am not there now, but I am giving another warning to them and to anyone else who has sinned: When I come to you again, I will punish you. 3You want proof that Christ is speaking through me. My proof is that he is not weak in dealing with you but is showing his power among you. 4It is true that Christ was weak when he was killed on the cross, but he lives now by God’s power. It is also true that we share his weakness, but in dealing with you, we will be alive in him by God’s power.
5Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Of course, if you fail the test, he is not in you. 6But I hope you will see that we have not failed the test. 7We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Our concern here is not for people to see that we have passed the test in our work with you. Our main concern is that you do what is right, even if it looks as if we have failed the test. 8We cannot do anything that is against the truth but only what promotes the truth. 9We are happy to be weak if you are strong. And this is what we pray—that your lives will be made completely right again. 10I’m writing this before I come so that when I am there I will not have to use my authority to punish you. The Lord gave me that authority to make you stronger, not to destroy you.
11Now, brothers and sisters, be filled with joy. Try to make everything right, and 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.
12Give each other the special greeting of God’s people.#13:12 the special greeting of God’s people Literally, “a holy kiss.” All of God’s holy people here send you their greetings.
13I pray that you will enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship#13:13 fellowship This can mean a sharing or participation in the Holy Spirit or the loving association and unity among believers that is created by the Spirit. of the Holy Spirit.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
2 Corinthians 13
13
Final warnings and greetings
1I am on my way to visit you for the third time. And as the Scriptures say, “Any charges must be proved true by at least two or three witnesses.”#Dt 17.6; 19.15. 2During my second visit I warned you that I would punish you and anyone else who doesn't stop sinning. I am far away from you now, but I give you the same warning. 3This should prove to you that I am speaking for Christ. When he corrects you, he won't be weak. He will be powerful! 4Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We are weak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does.
5Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. 6I hope you will discover that we have not failed. 7We pray that you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do right, even if we are failures.
8All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it. 9Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray that you will do even better. 10I am writing these things to you before I arrive. This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority that the Lord has given me. I was given this authority, so that I could help you and not destroy you.
Final greetings
11Goodbye, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other.
Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you. 12Give each other a warm greeting. All God's people send their greetings.
13I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012