⁹ For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may be restored.^(A)

Final Greetings and Benediction

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.^[a] Be restored; listen to my appeal;^[b] agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.^(A)

¹⁰ We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are sensible people in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.^(A)

¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.^(A)

¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ,^[a] will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.^(A)

⁵ On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,^{(A) 7} even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep^[a] me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.^{[b] 8} Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,^{(B) 9} but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power^[c] is made perfect in weakness.” So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.^{(C) 10} Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.^(D)

²¹ make you complete in everything good^[a] so that you may do his will, as he works among us^[b] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever.^[c] Amen.^(A)

²³ and to the assembly^[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^(A)

The Peril of Falling Away

6 Therefore let us go on^[a] toward perfection,^[b] leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God,^(A)