最後的警告

13 這是我第三次要去你們那裡。聖經上說:「任何控告必須有兩三個證人作證才能成立。」 我第二次去探望你們的時候已經警告過了,如今我雖然不在你們那裡,但仍要再次警告那些犯罪的人以及其餘的人:我再來的時候,必不寬容。 既然你們要我證明是基督藉著我說話,那麼你們當知道,基督處理你們這類的事絕不軟弱,祂在你們當中充滿力量。 不錯,祂的軟弱之軀曾被釘在十字架上,但如今祂靠上帝的大能活著。我們也跟祂一樣軟弱,但為了你們,我們要靠上帝的大能和祂一同活著。

你們要自我省察,看看自己是否真正信主,也要察驗自己。除非你們經不起察驗,否則,你們應該知道耶穌基督住在你們裡面。 我希望你們會知道,我們是經得起考驗的。 我們祈求上帝使你們一件惡事都不做,不是為了要顯明我們經得起考驗,而是要你們行事端正,就算我們經不起考驗也無妨。 因為我們不能抵擋真理,只能擁護真理。 只要你們剛強,我們就是軟弱也歡喜。我們為你們祈禱,盼望你們做純全的人。 10 我寫這封信是預先警告你們,免得我到你們當中的時候,必須運用基督給我的權柄嚴厲地對待你們。基督賜給我這權柄是為了造就人,不是毀壞人。

勸勉與祝福

11 最後,弟兄姊妹,我還有幾句話要說:你們要喜樂,追求完善,接受勸勉,同心合意,和睦共處。這樣,仁愛和平的上帝必常與你們同在。

12 你們要以聖潔的吻彼此問候。 13 全體聖徒都問候你們。

14 願主耶穌基督的恩典、上帝的慈愛、聖靈的感動,常與你們眾人同在!

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

13 All the saints salute you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Final Warnings

13 (A)This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established (B)by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (C)I warned (D)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 (E)if I come again I will not spare them— since you seek proof that Christ (F)is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but (G)is powerful among you. For (H)he was crucified in weakness, but (I)lives by the power of God. For (J)we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you (K)we will live with him by the power of God.

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. (L)Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that (M)Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But 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. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when (N)we are weak and you are strong. Your (O)restoration is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come (P)I may not have to be (Q)severe in my use of (R)the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Final Greetings

11 Finally, brothers,[a] rejoice. (S)Aim for restoration, comfort one another,[b] (T)agree with one another, (U)live in peace; and the God of love and (V)peace will be with you. 12 (W)Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 (X)All the saints greet you.

14 (Y)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and (Z)the love of God and (AA)the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or brothers and sisters
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or listen to my appeal

Coming with Authority

13 This will be (A)the third time I am coming to you. (B)“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (C)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent [a]I write to those (D)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again (E)I will not spare— since you seek a proof of Christ (F)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty (G)in you. (H)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet (I)He lives by the power of God. For (J)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, (K)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you [b]are (L)disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

Paul Prefers Gentleness

Now [c]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though (M)we may seem disqualified. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad (N)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, (O)that you may be made complete. 10 (P)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the (Q)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

Greetings and Benediction

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. (R)Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love (S)and peace will be with you.

12 (T)Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints greet you.

14 (U)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and (V)the [d]communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:2 NU omits I write
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:5 do not stand the test
  3. 2 Corinthians 13:7 NU we
  4. 2 Corinthians 13:14 fellowship