2 Corinthians 13
New American Standard Bible
Examine Yourselves
13 (A)This is the third time that I am coming to you. (B)On the [a]testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed. 2 I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have (C)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that (D)if I come again I will not (E)spare anyone, 3 since you are (F)seeking proof of the (G)Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but (H)mighty in you. 4 For indeed He was (I)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives (J)because of the power of God. For we too are (K)weak [b]in Him, yet (L)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
5 (M)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; (N)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you [c](O)fail the test? 6 But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves [d]do not fail the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may [e]appear unapproved. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are (P)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, [f]that you (Q)become mature. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present (R)I need not use (S)severity, in accordance with the (T)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
11 (U)Finally, brothers and sisters, [g]rejoice, (V)mend your ways, be comforted, (W)be like-minded, (X)live in peace; and (Y)the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 (Z)Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 (AA)All the [h]saints greet you.
14 (AB)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the (AC)love of God, and the (AD)fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 Lit mouth
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 One early ms with Him
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 Lit are unapproved
- 2 Corinthians 13:6 Lit are not unapproved
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 Lit be as
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 Lit your maturation
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or farewell
- 2 Corinthians 13:13 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
2 Corinthians 13
The Voice
13 This is my third trip to your city and community. As the Scripture says, “Every charge must be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”[a] 2 As I said before on my second visit, I say now again while absent. Consider this an advance warning, if you wish, to those of you still caught up in your old sins and to all the rest as well: when I come the next time, I will not spare anyone who is out of order. 3 You asked to see evidence that the power of the Anointed One, the Liberating King, is at work in me. Well, you will see it because He won’t be weak in dealing with you. Instead, He will do great things in you. 4 Now it’s true that He was crucified in weakness, but it’s also true that He lives by God’s power. For we who belong to Him are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by God’s power for you.
Weakness looks like failure in the eyes of the world, but for Paul weakness is an avenue to share in Jesus’ death and, therefore, in His life as well. The challenge is to remain faithful even in the difficult times, even when there is no one left to provide support. It is in these times that God’s power and comfort are most evident. This call to embrace weakness and suffering is difficult. It is normal to run from pain. But the examples of Jesus in the Gospels, of Paul in his letters, and of David in the psalms are of finding God’s strength in times of weakness.
5 Examine yourselves. Check your faith! Are you really in the faith? Do you still not know that Jesus the Anointed is in you?—unless, of course, you have failed the test. 6 Surely you will realize we have not failed the test, 7 but we pray to God that you will stay away from evil. What’s important is not whether we appear to have passed the test, but that you do what is right and act honorably, even if it appears that we have failed. 8 For there’s nothing we can do to oppose the truth; all we can do is align ourselves with it. 9 You see, we celebrate when we are weak but you are strong. Our prayer is simple: that you may be whole and complete. 10 How I hope I am saving you by writing this to you in advance; this letter will spare me from using the Lord’s authority to come down on you when I arrive. His intention in giving me this authority is to build you up, not tear you down.
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, keep rejoicing and repair whatever is broken. Encourage each other, think as one, and live at peace; and God, the Author of love and peace, will remain with you. 12 Greet each other with a holy kiss, as brothers and sisters. 13 All the saints here with me send you their greeting.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Anointed, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit remain with you all. [Amen.][b]
Paul ends his letters as he begins them, praying that grace be with those who read this letter. From first to last, the life of faith is framed by grace.
Footnotes
- 13:1 Deuteronomy 19:15
- 13:14 The earliest manuscripts omit this word.
2 Corinthians 13
New Life Version
13 This is my third visit to you. The Holy Writings tell us that when people think someone has done wrong, it must be proven by two or three people who saw the wrong being done. 2 During my second visit I talked to you who have been sinning and to all the others. While I am away, I tell you this again. The next time I come I will be hard on those who sin. 3 Since you want to know, I will prove to you that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when He works in your hearts. He uses His power in you. 4 Christ’s weak human body died on a cross. It is by God’s power that Christ lives today. We are weak. We are as He was. But we will be alive with Christ through the power God has for us.
5 Put yourselves through a test. See if you belong to Christ. Then you will know you belong to Christ, unless you do not pass the test. 6 I trust you see that we belong to Him and have passed the test. 7 We pray to God that you do no wrong. We do not pray this to show that our teaching is so great, but that you will keep on doing what is right, even if it looks as if we have done much wrong. 8 We cannot work against the truth of God. We only work for it. 9 We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. We pray that you will become strong Christians. 10 This is why I am writing these things while I am away from you. Then when I get there, I will not have to use strong words or punish you to show you that the Lord gives me this power. This power is to be used to make you stronger Christians, not to make you weak by hurting your faith.
11 Last of all, Christian brothers, good-bye. Do that which makes you complete. Be comforted. Work to get along with others. Live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with a kiss of holy love. 13 All those here who belong to Christ say hello. 14 May you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ. May you have the love of God. May you be joined together by the Holy Spirit.
2 Corintios 13
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Pablo advierte que obrará con severidad
13 Esta es la tercera vez que voy a visitarlos(A). Por el testimonio[a] de dos o tres testigos se juzgarán[b] todos los asuntos[c](B). 2 Dije previamente, cuando estuve presente la segunda vez, y aunque ahora estoy ausente, lo digo de antemano a los que pecaron anteriormente(C) y también a todos los demás, que si voy otra vez no seré indulgente(D), 3 puesto que ustedes buscan una prueba del Cristo que habla en mí(E). El cual no es débil para con ustedes, sino poderoso en ustedes(F). 4 Porque ciertamente Él fue crucificado(G) por debilidad, pero vive por el poder de Dios(H). Así[d] también nosotros somos débiles en[e] Él(I), sin embargo, viviremos con Él(J) por el poder de Dios para con ustedes.
5 Pónganse a prueba(K) para ver si están en la fe. Examínense a sí mismos(L). ¿O no se reconocen a ustedes mismos de que Jesucristo está en ustedes, a menos de que en verdad no pasen la prueba[f](M)? 6 Pero espero que reconocerán que nosotros no estamos reprobados. 7 Y rogamos a Dios que no hagan nada malo. No para que nosotros aparezcamos aprobados, sino para que ustedes hagan lo bueno, aunque nosotros aparezcamos[g] reprobados. 8 Porque nada podemos hacer contra la verdad, sino solo a favor de la verdad.
9 Pues nos regocijamos cuando nosotros somos débiles(N), pero ustedes son fuertes; también oramos por esto: que ustedes sean hechos perfectos[h](O). 10 Por esta razón les escribo estas cosas estando ausente, a fin de que cuando esté presente no tenga que usar[i] de severidad(P) según la autoridad que el Señor me dio para edificación y no para destrucción(Q).
Bendición y despedida
11 Por lo demás, hermanos(R), regocíjense[j], sean perfectos[k](S), confórtense, sean de un mismo sentir(T), vivan en paz(U), y el Dios de amor y paz estará con ustedes(V). 12 Salúdense los unos a los otros con beso santo(W). 13 Todos los santos los saludan(X).
14 La gracia del Señor Jesucristo(Y), el amor de Dios(Z) y la comunión del Espíritu Santo(AA) sean con todos ustedes.
Footnotes
- 2 Corintios 13:1 Lit. la boca.
- 2 Corintios 13:1 Lit. confirmarán.
- 2 Corintios 13:1 Lit. toda palabra.
- 2 Corintios 13:4 Lit. Porque.
- 2 Corintios 13:4 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: con.
- 2 Corintios 13:5 Lit. estén desaprobados.
- 2 Corintios 13:7 Lit. fuéramos como.
- 2 Corintios 13:9 Lit. por su perfección o para que sean hechos completos.
- 2 Corintios 13:10 O no use.
- 2 Corintios 13:11 O posiblemente, adiós.
- 2 Corintios 13:11 O perfecciónense.
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