2 Corinthians 13

¹This is the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter shall be established.” ²I have warned you before, and I give warning now—as I did when present the second time, so also now while absent—to those who have sinned previously and to all the rest: if I come again, I will not be lenient, ³since you are looking for proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in his dealings with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴For indeed, he was crucified out of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him by the power of God for your benefit.

⁵Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves to prove your own genuineness. Or do you not recognize this about yourselves—that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test. ⁶And I hope you will realize that we do not fail the test. ⁷But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we should appear to have failed. ⁸For we have no power against the truth, but only on behalf of the truth. ⁹For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is also what we pray for: your complete restoration.

¹⁰This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I may not have to act with severity, according to the authority the Lord gave me—an authority for building up and not for tearing down.

¹¹Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Be restored, be encouraged, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the set-apart people send you their greetings. ¹³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the shared participation in the Holy Spirit be with you all.