13
1 This
is the third
time I am
coming to you. “At
the mouth of
two or three
witnesses shall
every word be
established.”
2 I
have warned previously, and
I warn again, as
when I was
present the second
time, so now,
being absent, I write
to those who
have sinned before
now and to
all the rest
that if I
come again, I
will not spare,
3 seeing
that you seek
a proof of
Christ who speaks
in me who
is not weak, but
is powerful in you.
4 For
he was crucified
through weakness, yet
he lives through
the power of
God. For we
also are weak in
him, but we
will live with
him through the
power of God
toward you.
5 Examine
your own selves,
whether you are
in the faith.
Test your own
selves. Or don’t
you know about
your own selves,
that Jesus Christ
is in you?—unless
indeed you
are disqualified.
6 But
I hope that
you will know
that we aren’t disqualified.
7 Now
I pray to
God that you
do no evil;
not that we
may appear
approved, but that
you may do
that which is
honorable, though
we may seem
to have failed.
8 For
we can do
nothing against
the truth, but for
the truth.
9 For
we rejoice when
we are weak and
you are strong.
We also pray
for this:
your becoming perfect.
10 For
this cause I
write these things
while absent, that
I may not deal
sharply when present,
according to the
authority which
the Lord gave
me for building
up and not
for tearing down.
11 Finally,
brothers, rejoice! Be perfected.
Be comforted. Be
of the same
mind. Live in
peace, and the
God of love and
peace will be
with you.
12 Greet one
another with a holy
kiss.
13 All
the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all. Amen.