(A)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; (B)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you [a](C)fail the test? But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves [b]do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may [c]appear unapproved. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we ourselves are (D)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, [d]that you (E)become mature. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present (F)I need not use (G)severity, in accordance with the (H)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Lit are unapproved
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:6 Lit are not unapproved
  3. 2 Corinthians 13:7 Lit be as
  4. 2 Corinthians 13:9 Lit your maturation

Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don’t you, that Jesus the Messiah[a] lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? I hope you will realize that we haven’t failed our test. We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for—your maturity.

10 For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Or Christ