2 Corinthians 13 DBY
Summary: Announcing this will be his third visit, Paul warns that he will not spare those who sinned and have not repented, and urges the Corinthians to "examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith" (v. 5), testing whether Christ is truly in them. He hopes they will pass the test and prove his own ministry genuine, and prays for their restoration even if it means he appears weak by comparison. The letter closes with an exhortation to aim for restoration, comfort, agreement, and peace, a call to greet one another with a holy kiss, and the well-known benediction: "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (v. 14).
1This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.
2I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,
4for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives byGod's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live with him byGod's power towards you,)
5examine your own selves if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: do ye not recognise yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?
6Now I hope that ye will know that we are not reprobates.
7But we pray toGod that ye may do nothing evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is right, and we be as reprobates.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we rejoice when we may be weak and ye may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.
10On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.
11For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and theGod of love and peace shall be with you.
12Salute one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love ofGod, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, [be] with you all.
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