最后的警告

13 这是我第三次要去你们那里。圣经上说:“任何控告必须有两三个证人作证才能成立。” 我第二次去探望你们的时候已经警告过了,如今我虽然不在你们那里,但仍要再次警告那些犯罪的人以及其余的人:我再来的时候,必不宽容。 既然你们要我证明是基督借着我说话,那么你们当知道,基督处理你们这类的事绝不软弱,祂在你们当中充满力量。 不错,祂的软弱之躯曾被钉在十字架上,但如今祂靠上帝的大能活着。我们也跟祂一样软弱,但为了你们,我们要靠上帝的大能和祂一同活着。

你们要自我省察,看看自己是否真正信主,也要察验自己。除非你们经不起察验,否则,你们应该知道耶稣基督住在你们里面。 我希望你们会知道,我们是经得起考验的。 我们祈求上帝使你们一件恶事都不做,不是为了要显明我们经得起考验,而是要你们行事端正,就算我们经不起考验也无妨。 因为我们不能抵挡真理,只能拥护真理。 只要你们刚强,我们就是软弱也欢喜。我们为你们祈祷,盼望你们做纯全的人。 10 我写这封信是预先警告你们,免得我到你们当中的时候,必须运用基督给我的权柄严厉地对待你们。基督赐给我这权柄是为了造就人,不是毁坏人。

劝勉与祝福

11 最后,弟兄姊妹,我还有几句话要说:你们要喜乐,追求完善,接受劝勉,同心合意,和睦共处。这样,仁爱和平的上帝必常与你们同在。

12 你们要以圣洁的吻彼此问候。 13 全体圣徒都问候你们。

14 愿主耶稣基督的恩典、上帝的慈爱、圣灵的感动,常与你们众人同在!

Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth

13 This is the third time I am coming to visit[a] you. By the testimony[b] of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.[c] 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,[d] since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He[e] is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. 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. 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![f] And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test![g] Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test,[h] but so that you may do what is right[i] even if we may appear to have failed the test.[j] For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.[k] 10 Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive[l] I may not have to deal harshly with you[m] 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,[n] 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 [o] 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 fellowship[p] of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[q]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
  3. 2 Corinthians 13:1 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
  4. 2 Corinthians 13:2 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
  5. 2 Corinthians 13:3 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
  6. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
  7. 2 Corinthians 13:6 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
  8. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
  9. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “what is good.”
  10. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
  11. 2 Corinthians 13:9 tn Or “fully equipped.”
  12. 2 Corinthians 13:10 tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”
  13. 2 Corinthians 13:10 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  14. 2 Corinthians 13:11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
  15. 2 Corinthians 13:12 sn The versification of vv. 12 and 13 in the NET (so also NRSV, NLT) is according to the versification in the NA28 and UBS5 editions of the Greek text. Some translations, however, break the material up into three verses, i.e., 12-14 (NKJV, NASB, NIV). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
  16. 2 Corinthians 13:13 tn Or “communion.”
  17. 2 Corinthians 13:13 tc Most witnesses, especially later ones (א2 D Ψ M lat sy bo), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), while several early and significant mss (P46 א* A B F G 0243 6 33 630 1175 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. That so many diverse witnesses lacked the word here is strong testimony to its absence for the original text of 2 Corinthians.