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Listen to 2 Corinthians 13
Final Warnings
13This will be my third visit to you.(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[a](B) 2I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:(C) On my return I will not spare(D) those who sinned earlier(E) or any of the others, 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.(F) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(G) yet he lives by God’s power.(H) Likewise, we are weak(I) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(J) in our dealing with you.
5Examine yourselves(K) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(L) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(M)—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(N) but you are strong;(O) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.(P) 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh(Q) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.(R)
Final Greetings
11Finally, brothers and sisters,(S) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.(T) And the God of love(U) and peace(V) will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss.(W) 13All God’s people here send their greetings.(X)
14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,(Y) and the love of God,(Z) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit(AA) be with you all.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 : 2Co 12:14
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 : Dt 19:15; S Mt 18:16
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : ver 10
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : 2Co 1:23
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : 2Co 12:21
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 : Mt 10:20; 1Co 5:4
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : 1Co 1:25; Php 2:7, 8; 1Pe 3:18
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : Ro 1:4; 6:4; 1Co 6:14
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : ver 9; S 1Co 2:3
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : S Ro 6:5
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 : 1Co 11:28
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 : La 3:40; Jn 6:6
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 : S Ro 8:10
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 : S 1Co 2:3
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 : 2Co 4:12
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 : ver 11; Eph 4:13
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 : S 2Co 1:23
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 : 2Co 10:8
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : 1Th 4:1; 2Th 3:1
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : S Mk 9:50
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : 1Jn 4:16
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : S Ro 15:33; Eph 6:23
- 2 Corinthians 13:12 : S Ro 16:16
- 2 Corinthians 13:13 : Php 4:22
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 : S Ro 16:20; 2Co 8:9
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 : Ro 5:5; Jude 21
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 : Php 2:1
Coming with Authority
13This will be (A)the third time I am coming to you. (B)“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2(C)I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent [a]I write to those (D)who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again (E)I will not spare— 3since you seek a proof of Christ (F)speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty (G)in you. 4(H)For though He was crucified in weakness, yet (I)He lives by the power of God. For (J)we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, (K)that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you [b]are (L)disqualified. 6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.
Paul Prefers Gentleness
7Now [c]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though (M)we may seem disqualified. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9For we are glad (N)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, (O)that you may be made complete. 10(P)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the (Q)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
Greetings and Benediction
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. (R)Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love (S)and peace will be with you.
12(T)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14(U)The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and (V)the [d]communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 NU omits I write
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 do not stand the test
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 NU we
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 fellowship
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 : 2 Cor. 12:14
- 2 Corinthians 13:1 : Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; John 8:17; Heb. 10:28
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : 2 Cor. 10:2
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : 2 Cor. 12:21
- 2 Corinthians 13:2 : 2 Cor. 1:23; 10:11
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 : Matt. 10:20; [1 Cor. 5:4; 7:40]
- 2 Corinthians 13:3 : [1 Cor. 9:2]
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : Phil. 2:7, 8; [1 Pet. 3:18]
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : [Rom. 1:4; 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:14]
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 : [2 Cor. 10:3, 4]
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 : Rom. 8:10; [Gal. 4:19]
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 : 1 Cor. 9:27
- 2 Corinthians 13:7 : 2 Cor. 6:9
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 : 1 Cor. 4:10
- 2 Corinthians 13:9 : 1 Cor. 1:10; 2 Cor. 13:11; Eph. 4:12; [1 Thess. 3:10]
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 : 1 Cor. 4:21
- 2 Corinthians 13:10 : 1 Cor. 5:4; 2 Cor. 10:8
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : Rom. 12:16, 18
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 : Rom. 15:33; Eph. 6:23
- 2 Corinthians 13:12 : Rom. 16:16
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 : Rom. 16:24
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 : Phil. 2:1
13This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
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