Final Warnings
1 1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established
2by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
2
3I warned
4those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that
5if I come again I will not spare them--
3
since you seek proof that Christ
6is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but
7is powerful among you.
4
For
8he was crucified in weakness, but
9lives by the power of God. For
10we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you
11we will live with him by the power of God.
5
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.
12Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that
13Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6
I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
7
But we pray to God that you may not do wrong--not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9
For we are glad when
14we are weak and you are strong. Your
15restoration is what we pray for.
10
For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come
16I may not have to be
17severe in my use of
18the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice.
19Aim for restoration, comfort one another,
20agree with one another,
21live in peace; and the God of love and
22peace will be with you.
12
23Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13
24All the saints greet you.
14
25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and
26the love of God and
27the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.