⁵ Test^(A) 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.^{[a] 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,^(B) even though we may appear to fail. ⁸ For we can’t do anything against the truth,^(C) but only for the truth. ⁹ We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.^(D) We also pray that you become fully mature.^{[b] 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^(E) and not for tearing down.^(F)