结尾的警告与劝勉

13 这是我第三次到你们那里去。“任何事,凭两个或三个见证人的口,才能成立。”[a] 我先前说过了,现在虽然我不在你们那里,还要像第二次在你们那里的时候一样,预先警告那些从前犯了罪的人和所有其余的人:我如果再来,不会顾惜! 这是因为你们寻找基督在我里面说话的凭证。基督对你们并不是软弱的;相反,他在你们中间是有大能的。 实际上,基督虽然在软弱中被钉十字架,但他却在神的大能中活着。的确,我们虽然在基督里也软弱,但为了你们,我们却在神的大能中,将要与基督一同活着。

你们要察验自己是否在信仰中,要考验自己。难道你们不了解耶稣基督在你们里面吗?除非你们是经不起考验的。 但是我希望你们明白,我们不是经不起考验的。 我们祈求神,使你们不做任何恶事。这不是要显明我们是经过考验的,而是要你们行美善的事,就算我们可能像是经不起考验的。 因为我们做任何事都不能抵挡真理,只能拥护真理。 实际上,当我们软弱而你们刚强的时候,我们就欢喜;我们还祈求这一点:就是你们得以完全。 10 为此,我不在你们那里的时候写了这些事,好让我来到的时候,不必用主所赐给我的权柄严厉地对待你们。这权柄是为了造就人,并不是为了拆毁人。

11 最后,弟兄们,你们要欢喜!愿你们得以完全,愿你们得到安慰!你们要同心合意,要彼此和睦。这样,慈爱与平安的神就会与你们同在。 12 你们要用圣洁的亲吻礼彼此问候。所有的圣徒都问候你们。

13 愿主耶稣基督的恩典、神的慈爱、圣灵的契合[b]与你们大家同在![c][d]

Footnotes

  1. 哥林多后书 13:1 《申命记》17:6;19:15。
  2. 哥林多后书 13:13 契合——或译作“沟通”或“相通”。
  3. 哥林多后书 13:13 有古抄本附“阿们。”
  4. 哥林多后书 13:13 有译本把12-13节的经文分成三节“12 你们要用圣洁的亲吻礼彼此问候。13 所有的圣徒都问候你们。14 愿主耶稣基督的恩典、神的慈爱、圣灵的契合与你们大家同在!”

Final Warnings and Greetings

13 I will come to you for the third time [2:1, 3; 12:14]. “Every ·case [accusation; matter] must be ·proved [established] by two or three witnesses [Deut. 19:15].” When I was with you the second time [2:1–2], I gave a warning to those who had sinned. Now I am away from you, and I give a warning to all the others. When I come to you again, I will not ·be easy with [spare] them. ·You want [or …since you are demanding] proof that Christ is speaking through me. My proof is that he is not weak among you, but he is powerful. It is true that he was weak when he was ·killed on the cross [crucified], but he lives now by God’s power. It is true that we are weak in Christ, but ·for you [or when dealing with you; or in your presence] we will be alive with Christ by God’s power [C Christ’s resurrection turns weakness into strength].

·Test [Examine] yourselves to see if you are ·living in [L in] the faith. ·Look closely at [Test; Examine] yourselves. ·You [L Or don’t you…?] know that Jesus Christ is in you—·unless [or if not,] you fail the test. But I hope you will see that we ourselves have not failed the test. We pray to God that you will not do anything ·wrong [evil]. It is not important ·to see [that people see; or for it to appear] that we have passed the test, but it is important that you do what is ·right [good], even if it seems we have failed. [L For] We cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We ·are happy to be [rejoice whenever we are] weak, if you are strong, and we pray that you will become ·complete [mature; or fully equipped/restored]. 10 I am writing this while I am away from you so that when I come I will not have to be ·harsh [severe] in my use of authority. The Lord gave me this authority to build you up, not to tear you down.

11 ·Now [Finally], brothers and sisters, ·I say good-bye [or be joyful; L rejoice; C a common greeting and farewell]. ·Live in harmony [Seek restoration; or Mend your ways]. ·Do what I have asked you to do [Follow my exhortation; or Encourage/Exhort one another]. ·Agree with each other [Live in unity], and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet each other with a holy kiss. 13 All ·of God’s holy people [T the saints] send greetings to you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[a](B) I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(C) On my return I will not spare(D) those who sinned earlier(E) or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(F) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(G) yet he lives by God’s power.(H) Likewise, we are weak(I) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(J) in our dealing with you.

Examine yourselves(K) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(L) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(M)—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak(N) but you are strong;(O) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(P) 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(Q) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(R)

Final Greetings

11 Finally, brothers and sisters,(S) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(T) And the God of love(U) and peace(V) will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(W) 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.(X)

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

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15