2 Corinthians 13
New English Translation
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] 2 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] 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He[e] 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![f] 6 And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test![g] 7 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] 8 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.[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
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:6 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “what is good.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 tn Or “fully equipped.”
- 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.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
- 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.
- 2 Corinthians 13:13 tn Or “communion.”
- 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.
Kehillah in Corinth II 13
Orthodox Jewish Bible
13 This is the pa’am hashlishit I am coming to you; [2C 12:14] by the PI SHNAYIM SHLOSHAH EDIM (‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses, DEVARIM 19:15) every dvar shall be established.
2 I warned those who committed averos before and all the rest, and, now absent, I warn them again, as I did when I made pakad (visit) the pa’am hashenit, that if I come again, I will not spare, I will not be lenient,
3 Als (since) you seek to test if Moshiach is speaking in me. Moshiach is not weak toward you, but is GIBBOR in you [YESHAYAH 9:5].
4 For indeed he was talui al HaEtz (“being hanged on the Tree,” DEVARIM 21:23) out of weakness, [Pp 2:7-8] but Moshiach lives by the gevurat Hashem. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet we will live with him by the gevurat Hashem (the power of G-d) toward you.
5 Perform a bedikah (examination) on yourselves to see if you are in the [Orthodox Jewish] emunah (faith). Test and prove yourselves [1C 11:28]. Or do you yourselves not have da’as that Moshiach is in you? Unless you are reprobate and unapproved. [EKHAH 3:40]
6 But I have tikvah that you will have da’as that we are not unapproved.
7 Now we daven (pray) to Hashem that you do not do any rah (evil), not that we Shlichim may appear to have stood the test, but that you may do hatov (the good), though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we are not able to do anything against HaEmes, but only for HaEmes. [1C 13:6]
9 For we have lev same’ach when we are megareia (weakened) and you are strong, for this also we daven (pray), that is, for your shelemut (perfection), your tikkun (restoration repair).
10 Therefore, while I am absent I write this iggeret so that when I am present I may not treat you with severity, according to the samchut (authority) which Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu gave me for your chozek (strength) and not for your churban. [2C 2:3; 10:8,11]
11 For the rest, Achim b’Moshiach, rejoice with simcha. [Pp 4:4] Come to order and chazzak (be strong)! Have achdus (unity) in your machshavot (thoughts). Live in shalom. And the G-d of ahavah and shalom will be with you. [Ro 15:33]
12 Greet one another with a neshikat hakodesh.
13 All the Kadoshim say, "Shalom!"
14 The Chen v’Chesed Adoneinu Moshiach and the ahavat Hashem and the hitkhabrut HaRuach Hakodesh be with you all. [Zohar: telat rishin khad hu, three heads are one, Zohar vol iii p.288 versa Amsterdam edition]
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