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

Advertencias finales

13 Esta será la tercera vez que os visito. «Todo asunto se resolverá mediante el testimonio de dos o tres testigos».[a] Cuando estuve con vosotros por segunda vez os advertí, y ahora que estoy ausente os lo repito: Cuando vuelva a veros, no seré indulgente con los que antes pecaron ni con ningún otro, ya que estáis exigiendo una prueba de que Cristo habla por medio de mí. Él no se muestra débil en su trato con vosotros, sino que ejerce su poder entre vosotros. Es cierto que fue crucificado en debilidad, pero ahora vive por el poder de Dios. De igual manera, nosotros participamos de su debilidad, pero por el poder de Dios viviremos con Cristo para vosotros.

Examinaos para ver si estáis en la fe; probaos a vosotros mismos. ¿No os dais cuenta de que Cristo Jesús está en vosotros? ¡A menos que fracaséis en la prueba! Espero que reconozcáis que nosotros no hemos fracasado. Pedimos a Dios que no hagáis nada malo, no para demostrar mi éxito, sino para que hagáis lo bueno, aunque parezca que nosotros hemos fracasado. Pues nada podemos hacer contra la verdad, sino a favor de la verdad. De hecho, nos alegramos cuando nosotros somos débiles y vosotros fuertes; y oramos a Dios para que os restaure plenamente. 10 Por eso os escribo todo esto en mi ausencia, para que cuando vaya no tenga que ser severo en el uso de mi autoridad, la cual el Señor me ha dado para edificación y no para destrucción.

Saludos finales

11 En fin, hermanos, alegraos, buscad[b] vuestra restauración, haced caso de mi exhortación, sed de un mismo sentir, vivid en paz. Y el Dios de amor y de paz estará con vosotros.

12 Saludaos unos a otros con un beso santo. 13 Todos los santos os mandan saludos.

14 Que la gracia del Señor Jesucristo, el amor de Dios y la comunión del Espíritu Santo sean con todos vosotros.

Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Dt 19:15
  2. 13:11 alegraos, buscad. Alt. os saludo. Buscad.

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

13 All the saints salute you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

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] 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] since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He[e] is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. 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. 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] And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test![g] 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] For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. 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

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:1 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
  3. 2 Corinthians 13:1 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
  4. 2 Corinthians 13:2 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
  5. 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.
  6. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
  7. 2 Corinthians 13:6 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
  8. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
  9. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “what is good.”
  10. 2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
  11. 2 Corinthians 13:9 tn Or “fully equipped.”
  12. 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.”
  13. 2 Corinthians 13:10 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
  14. 2 Corinthians 13:11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
  15. 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.
  16. 2 Corinthians 13:13 tn Or “communion.”
  17. 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.