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) 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, since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.(D) He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:15

Paul’s Final Advice

13 This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”[a]). I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.

I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.

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Footnotes

  1. 13:1 Deut 19:15.