2 Corinthians 13
English Standard Version
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. 2 (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— 3 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. 4 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.
5 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! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 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. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 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
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or brothers and sisters
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or listen to my appeal
2 Corinthians 13
Christian Standard Bible
Final Warnings and Exhortations
13 This is the third time I am coming to you.(A) Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.[a](B) 2 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning(C) while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.(D) He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified(E) in weakness, but he lives(F) by the power of God. For we also are weak in him,(G) but in dealing with you we will live(H) with him by God’s power.
5 Test(I) yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.[b] 6 And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7 But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,(J) even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we can’t do anything against the truth,(K) but only for the truth. 9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.(L) We also pray that you become fully mature.[c] 10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up(M) and not for tearing down.(N)
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice.[d] Become mature, be encouraged,[e] be of the same mind,(O) be at peace,(P) and the God of love(Q) and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.(R) All the saints send you greetings.
13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love(S) of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.[f](T)
Footnotes
- 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:15
- 13:5 Or you are disqualified, or you are counterfeit
- 13:9 Or become complete, or be restored
- 13:11 Or farewell
- 13:11 Or listen to my appeal
- 13:12–13 Some translations divide these two vv. into three vv. so that v. 13 begins with All the saints... and v. 14 begins with The grace of...
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.