2 Corinthians 13:1–10

Final Warnings

13This will be my third visit to you.^r “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^{as 2}I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^t On my return I will not spare^u those who sinned earlier^v or any of the others, ³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^w He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^x yet he lives by God’s power.^y Likewise, we are weak^z in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^a in our dealing with you.

⁵Examine yourselves^b to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^c Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^d—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹We are glad whenever we are weak^e but you are strong;^f and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^{g 10}This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^h in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.ⁱ