God's New Bible

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version

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- Chapter 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.”(a)
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.

Benediction and Farewell

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.

Footnotes

(a)13:1 ℘ Deuteronomy 19:15
1
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2
I 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:
3
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4
For 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.
5
Examine 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?
6
But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7
Now 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.
8
For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10
Therefore 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.

Benediction and Farewell

11
Finally, 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.
12
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13
All the saints salute you.
14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.