Book of Common Prayer

When I Come I Will Not Spare Those Seeking Proof of Christ Speaking In Me

13 This is the third time I am coming^[a] to you. Every word shall be established based-on the mouth of two and three witnesses. ² I have said-before and I am saying-beforehand, as being-present^[b] the second time and being-absent now, to the ones having previously-sinned and to all the rest— that if I come again I will not spare you, ³ since you are seeking a proof of Christ speaking in me, Who is not weak toward you, but is strong in you. ⁴ For indeed He was crucified because-of weakness^[c], but He lives because-of the power of God. For indeed we are weak in Him, but we will live with Him because of the power of God toward you.

Prove Yourselves, That Christ Is In You!

⁵ Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith! Prove^[d] yourselves! Or do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disapproved^[e]. ⁶ But I hope that you will come-to-know that we are not disapproved.

We Are Praying For You

⁷ And we are praying to God that you may not do anything bad^[f]— not in order that we may appear approved^[g], but in order that you may be doing the good, and we may be as^[h] disapproved. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but [only] for the truth. ⁹ For we are rejoicing whenever we are weak but you are strong. This also we are praying— your restoration^[i].

I Am Writing So I Don’t Have To Act Severely When I Come

¹⁰ For this reason I am writing these things while absent— in order that while being-present, I may not act severely^[j] according-to^[k] the authority which the Lord gave me for building-up and not for tearing-down.

¹¹ Finally, brothers, be rejoicing^[l], be restored^[m], be exhorted^[n], be thinking the same thing, be living-in-peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All the saints greet you. ¹⁴ The grace of ^[o] the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of ^[p] God and the fellowship of ^[q] the Holy Spirit be with you all.

²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast-out demons in Your name, and do many miracles^[a] in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare^[b] to them that ‘I never knew^[c] you. Depart from Me, ones working lawlessness’. ²⁴ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and is doing them will be-like a wise^[d] man who built his house upon the bed-rock. ²⁵ And the rain came down, and the rivers^[e] came, and the winds blew— and they fell against that house. And it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the bed-rock. ²⁶ And everyone hearing these words of Mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. ²⁷ And the rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew— and they struck-against that house. And it fell, and the falling^[f] of it was great”.

The Works of The King: Divine Power In Action

²⁸ And it came about that when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astounded^[g] at His teaching. ²⁹ For He was teaching them as One having authority, and not as their scribes.