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2 Corinthians 13:3-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Corinthians 13:3-9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 [a]since you are looking for proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you but powerful in you. 4 For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. So also we are weak in him, but toward you we shall live with him by the power of God.
5 [b]Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail the test. 6 I hope you will discover that we have not failed. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do evil, not that we may appear to have passed the test but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 13:3–4 Paul now gives another motive for severity when he comes, the charge of weakness leveled against him as an apostle. The motive echoes more closely the opening section (2 Cor 10:1–18) and the intervening development (especially 2 Cor 11:30–12:10). Proof of Christ speaking in me: the threat of 2 Cor 10:1–2 is reworded to recall Paul’s conformity with the pattern of Christ, his insertion into the interplay of death and life, weakness and power (cf. note on 2 Cor 12:10b).
- 13:5–9 Paul turns the challenge mentioned in 2 Cor 13:3 on them: they are to put themselves to the test to demonstrate whether Christ is in them. These verses involve a complicated series of plays on the theme of dokimē (testing, proof, passing and failing a test). Behind this stands the familiar distinction between present human judgment and final divine judgment. This is the final appearance of the theme (cf. 2 Cor 10:18; 11:15; 12:19).
2 Corinthians 13:3-9
New International Version
2 Corinthians 13:3-9
New International Version
3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(A) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(B) yet he lives by God’s power.(C) Likewise, we are weak(D) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(E) in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves(F) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(G) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(H)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 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. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak(I) but you are strong;(J) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(K)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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