^13:1This is the third time I am coming to visit¹ you. By the testimony² of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.³^13:2I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,⁴^13:3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He⁵ is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. ^13:4For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you. ^13:5Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!⁶^13:6And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!⁷^13:7Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test,⁸ but so that you may do what is right⁹ even if we may appear to have failed the test.¹⁰^13:8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. ^13:9For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.¹¹^13:10Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive¹² I may not have to deal harshly with you¹³ by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

Final Exhortations and Greetings

^13:11Finally, brothers and sisters,¹⁴ rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. ^13:12¹⁵ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. ^13:13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship¹⁶ of the Holy Spirit be with you all.¹⁷

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Footnotes

1 The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
2 Grk “By the mouth.”
3 A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
4 The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
5 Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
6 Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
7 Or “that we are not disqualified.”
8 Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
9 Or “what is good.”
10 Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
11 Or “fully equipped.”
12 Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”
13 The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
14 Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
15 The versification of vv. 12 and 13 in the Bible (so also , ) is according to the versification in the and editions of the Greek text. Some translations, however, break the material up into three verses, i.e., 12–14 (, , ). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
16 Or “communion.”
17 Most witnesses, especially later ones (א2 D Ψ 𝔐 lat sy bo), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), while several early and important (𝔓46 א* A B F G 0243 6 33 630 1175 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. That so many diverse witnesses lacked the word here is strong testimony to its absence for the original text of 2 Corinthians.