¹This is the third time that I’ll be visiting you. Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses. ²I already warned you when I was with you the second time, and even though I’m not there now, I’m warning you again. When I visit you again, I won’t spare you. That goes for all those who formerly led sinful lives as well as for all the others. ³Since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me, that’s what you’ll get. Christ isn’t weak in dealing with you. Instead, he makes his power felt among you. ⁴He was weak when he was crucified, but by God’s power he lives. We are weak with him, but by God’s power we will live for you with his help.

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are still in the Christian faith. Test yourselves! Don’t you recognize that you are people in whom Jesus Christ lives? Could it be that you’re failing the test? ⁶I hope that you will realize that we haven’t failed the test. ⁷We pray to God that you won’t do anything wrong. It’s not that we want to prove that we’ve passed the test. Rather, we want you to do whatever is right, even if we seem to have failed. ⁸We can’t do anything against the truth but only to help the truth. ⁹We’re glad when we are weak and you are strong. We are also praying for your improvement.

¹⁰That’s why I’m writing this letter while I’m not with you. When I am with you I don’t want to be harsh by using the authority that the Lord gave me. The Lord gave us this authority to help you, not to hurt you.

Farewell

¹¹With that, brothers and sisters, I must say goodbye. Make sure that you improve. Accept my encouragement. Share the same attitude and live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you. ¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss. All of God’s holy people greet you.^a

¹³May the Lord Jesus Christ’s good will,^bGod’s love, and the Holy Spirit’s presence be with all of you!

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Footnotes

a 13:12 Some English Bibles count the last sentence of verse 12 as verse 13. Verse 13 is then counted as verse 14.
b 13:13 Or “grace.”