To the Corinthians 2
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through the wish of God, and Timothy, our brother, To the church of God which is in Corinth with all the saints which are in the whole of Achaia:
2 Grace to you all and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
God of All Comfort
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we are able to comfort those in all affliction through the comfort which we ourselves were comforted with by God. 5 Since as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so through the comfort of Christ, we also abound. 6 But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort which is active in patience of the same sufferings which we suffer. 7 And our hope is firma for you all, knowing that as you all share our sufferings, so also our comfort.
8 For we do not wish for you all to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia, that we were exceedingly burdened beyond our ability that we despaired even of life. 9 But we have received in ourselves the sentence of death, in order that we may not trustb in ourselves but on God who raises the dead 10 who delivered us from such a death and will deliver, in whom we hope that He will deliver again. 11 You all are also helping us in prayer that many people, for our gift to us, may give many thanks on our behalf.
Paul's Change of Plans
12 For our boast is this, the witness of our conscience, that in the simplicityc and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved in the world supremely towards you all. 13 For we are not writing anything to you all other than what you all read and understandd, but I hope that you all understand until the end — 14 as you all partially understood us — that you all will boast of us as we of you all on the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 And in this confidence, I was willing first to come to you all in order that you all might have a second experience of grace. 16 And to come through you all to Macedonia and again from Macedonia to come to you all, and you all to send me to Judea. 17 Then was I ficklee in willing to do this?f Do I will what I will according to the flesh that there might be with me “Yes, yes” and “No, no?” 18 But as God is faithful that our word towards you all was not Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is among you all through our preaching, through me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not Yes and No but in Him it has been Yes. 20 For whatsoever announcements of God, in Him are Yes. Therefore, also through Him we say Amen to God for glory through us. 21 But while establishing us with you all in Christ, and after anointing us, God 22 also sealed us and gaveg the pledgeh of His Spirit in our hearts.
23 But I call upon God as a witness against my soul that sparing you all I did not come again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work together for your joy, for you all have stood firm in your faith.
2 For I judged this of myself not again in sorrow to come to you all. 2 For if I am sorrowful to you all, who will put me in a good frame of mind except the ones sorrowful because of me? 3 And I wrote as I didi in order that after coming, I might not have sorrow from those whom it is necessary to rejoice, being persuaded by all of you all that my joy is all of your joy. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you all through many tears not to make you all sorrowful, but that you all may know the exceeding love that I have for you all.
Forgive the Sinner
5 Now, if anyone has caused pain, he has not caused it to me, but in some measure — that I might not burden — to all of you all. 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment which is by the majority 7 so that, on the contrary, even more you all are to forgivej and comfort so not in any way with excessive sorrow may such a man be overwhelmed. 8 Therefore, I beseech you all to confirm your love to him. 9 For to them I also wrote in order that I might know the proof of you all if in all things you all are obedient. 10 But anyone whom you all forgive, I also forgive. For what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I forgave for your sake in the face of Christ 11 in order that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designsk.
Triumph in Christ
12 But after coming to Troas to preach the good news of Christ, and after having a door opened to me in the Lord, 13 I have not had rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus, my brother. But after taking leave of them, I went out to Macedonia.
14 But grace be to God who is always leading us in triumphal procession in Christ, and the savorl of His knowledge is spread through us in every place. 15 Since we are the fragrance of Christ to God in all those being saved and in those perishing, 16 to those, indeed, a savor of death to death but to others a savor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not like the many, peddlingm the word of God but like men of sincerity, but as of God in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
Ministers of the New Covenant
3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you all or from you all?n 2 You all are our letters, after having been engraved in our hearts, being known and read by all men, 3 being made manifest that you all are a letter from Christ, after being ministered by us, after having been engraved not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of fleshly hearts. 4 But such is the confidence we have through Christ toward God, 5 not because we are sufficient in ourselves to account anything as of us, but our sufficiency is of God 6 who also made us sufficient ministers of the new covenant, not of letter but of Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive.
7 But if the ministry of death, after having been engraved in letters in stone, came in glory such that the sons of Israel were not able to stareo at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face which was being brought to an end, 8 will the ministry of the Spirit not be much more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more the ministry of righteousness abounds in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious has not been glorified in this respect because of the exceeding glory. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more what is remaining be in glory.
12 Therefore, having such a hope, we use very bold speech, 13 and not exactly as Moses who was putting a veil over his face that the sons of Israel not stare at the conclusion of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, the same veil on the reading of the old covenant, remains, not being uncovered because in Christ it is done away with. 15 But until this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts. 16 But when he turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 But the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with a face after having been unveiled, are beholding the reflecting glory of the Lord, being metamorphasized into the same image, from glory to glory, exactly as from the Spirit of the Lord.
The Light of the Gospel
4 For this reason, having this ministry as we received mercy, do not lose heart. 2 But we renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God but in the manifestation of truth, commending ourselves to the conscience of every man before God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing 4 in whom the god of this age blinded the minds of the unbelievers not to see the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your servants through Christ. 6 Since God said, “Out of darkness, the light will shine,” who shined in our hearts to light the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Jars of Clay
7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels in order that the surpassing power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are afflicted in every way but crushed perplexed but not in despair 9 persecuted but not forsaken struck down, but not destroyedp 10 always carrying the death of Jesus Christ in the body in order that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake in order that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us but life in you all.
13 But having the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, therefore, I spoke,”q and we believe, therefore, we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will commend us with you all. 15 For it is all for your sake in order that the grace, after extending through more people, may increase the thanksgiving to the glory of God.
16 Therefore, we do not lose heart. But if our outer man is wasting awayr, our inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light, momentary affliction of ours workss for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparisont, 18 not looking to the things being seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things being seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Our Heavenly Dwelling
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God: a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens.u 2 For even in this, we groan, greatly desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed after putting it offv, we will not be found naked. 4 For even while being in this tent, we groan, being burdened — not that we wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 But He, who worksw us for this very thing, is God, after giving us the Spirit as a pledgex.
6 Having courage, therefore, always knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith not by sight. 8 But we have courage and we are more pleased to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, we make it our aim, whether we are at home or away, to be acceptable to Him. 10 For it is necessary we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ in order that each one may receive the things in the body for what he practiced, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. But we have been made manifest to God, and I hope it has also been known in your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you all again but giving you all an occasion to boast about us in order that you all may have an answer to them boasting in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you all. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, after judging this: that for all, one died; therefore, all died; 15 and He died for all in order that those living might no longer live for themselves but for Him, who for their sake died and was raised.y
16 Therefore, we, from now on, do not see anyone according to the flesh. Even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, but now we no longer know Him this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 And all these things are from God, after reconciling us to Himself through Christ and giving us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 since God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them and appointing in us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadorsz for Christ as God is making His appeal through us. We implore for Christ, Be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake, He made Him to be sin, after not knowing sin in order that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
6 But working together, we appeal to you all not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says,
“In an acceptable time, I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation, I helped you.”aa
Behold, now is the favorableab time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We are putting no obstacles in anyone's way in order that there may not be blameac in our ministry, 4 but in every way, we are commending ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in afflictions, in need, in distress, 5 in beatings, in prison, in instability, in labor, in sleeplessness, in fasting, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love; 7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors and are true; 9 as being unknown, and being well known; as dying, and behold, we are living; as being punished, and not being killed; 10 as being sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, but being very rich; as having nothing, and having everything.
11 Our mouth has been opened to you all,ad Corinthians; our hearts have been enlarged. 12 You all are not restrictedae by us, but you have been restricted by your affections. 13 And in return (I speak as to children), widen your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 Do not beaf unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what participation has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 And what agreement has Christ with Beliar? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.ag
17 Therefore, go out from their midst,
and be separate says the Lord,
and an unclean thing do not touchah;
and I will receive you all,ai
18 and I will be a father to you all,
and you all will be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”aj
7 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, we should cleanse ourselves from every defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Paul's Joy
2 Make room for us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you all, for I have said before that you all are in our hearts to die together and live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech to you all; great is my boasting for you all; I have been filled with comfort. My joy is super abundant in all our affliction.
5 For even after coming to Macedonia, our flesh has had no rest, but we are being afflicted in every way — fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, the comforter of the downcast, comforted us with the coming of Titus, 7 and not only in his coming but also in the comfort with which he was comforted by you all, announcing to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced more. 8 That even if I made you all sorrowful in the letter, I do not regret it — though I did regret it, for I see that the letter grieved you all though only for awhile. 9 Now I rejoice not because you all were grieved, but because you all were grieved into repentance. For you all were grieved in a godly way in order that you all suffered no loss from us.
10 For godly grief works repentance to salvation without regret, but the grief of the world worksak death. 11 For behold this godly grief itself worked in you all earnestness, apologyal, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, vengeance. In everything, you all exhibited yourselves to be clearam in this matter. 12 So, although I wrote to you all, it was not on account of the one doing wrong, nor on account of the one being wronged but on account of your earnestness for us to be manifest to you all before God. 13 For this reason, we have been comforted.
And besides our comfort, we rejoiced more abundantly at the joy of Titus because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 That whatever I had boasted about him to you all, I was not shamed. But as everything we spoke to you all was true, so also our boasting before Titus is true. 15 And his affection is more abundant for you all, remembering the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you all received him. 16 I rejoice because in all things I have confidence in you all.
Encouragement to Give Generously
8 But we want to make known to you all, brothers, the grace of God having been given among the churches in Macedonia, 2 that in a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deepan poverty overflowed to the wealth of their generosity, 3 that according to their ability, I witness, and beyond their ability, voluntarily, 4 with much consolation, begging us for the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints — 5 and not as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the wish of God. 6 We implored Titus, in order that as began, so also he should complete among you all this grace. 7 But as in everything you all excel — in faith and speech and knowledge and all earnestness and in our love for you all — in order that you all also may excel in this grace.
8 I say this not as a command but through the earnestness of others, also proving your love is genuine. 9 For you all know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that being rich, He became poor for your sake in order that you all by His poverty might become rich. 10 And I give judgment in this matter: for this is advantageous for you all, who began a year ago, not only to do but also to desire this work. 11 And now, perfect doing it, so that the readiness of your desire will also perfect it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For not that others should be eased, and you all afflicted, but out of equality 14 at the present time, your abundance may supply their need, in order that their abundance may supply your need, so that there may be equality. 15 As it has been written, “The one gathering much had nothing left over, and the one gathering little had no lack.”ao
Commendation of Titus
16 But grace to God who put the same earnestness for you all in the heart of Titus. 17 Since, indeed, he accepted the appeal, but being very earnest, he voluntarily went to you all. 18 And we sent him with the brother, who is praised for preaching the gospel through all of the churches — : 19 and not only that, but also being appointed by the churches to travel with us with this grace being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord and our willing mind. 20 Avoiding this, no one should blame us in this generousap gift, being administered by us, 21 for we consider what is good not only before God but so before men. 22 And we sent with them our brother whom we tested in many matters, frequently being earnest, but now much more earnest in his great confidence in you all. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. As for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore, the proof of your love and our boasting about you all, show to these men before the churches.
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
9 For indeed, about the ministry to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you all, 2 for I know your readiness which I boast about you all to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared since last year. And your zeal stirred up most of them. 3 But I sent the brothers in order that our boasting about you all may not be empty in this matter in order that you all may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find you all unprepared, we would be ashamed — not to speak of you all — in this confidence.aq 5 Therefore, I thought it necessary to urge the brothers in order that they may go ahead to you all and prepare in advance the blessing you all have promised, that it be ready as a blessing, and not as an exaction.ar
The Cheerful Giver
6 The point is this: the one sowing sparingly will reap sparingly, and the one sowing with blessings will also reap with blessings. 7 Each as he has purposed in his heart not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 For God is able to make all grace abound to you all in order that in all things at all times, having all sufficiency or contentment, that you all may abound in every good work. 9 As it has been written,
“He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor;
His righteousness remains forever.”as
10 But the one supplying seed for the sower and bread for the hungry will supply and multiply your seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness 11 in every way, being enriched to generosity in every way which produces thanksgiving through us to God, 12 since the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through their approvalat of this service, glorifying God because of the subjection of your confession to the gospel of Christ and generosity of your fellowship for them and for all others, 14 they greatly desire for you all and pray for you all because of the exceeding grace of God upon you all. 15 Grace to God for His inexpressible gift!
Paul Defends His Ministry
10 But I, Paul, myself beseech you all through the meekness and gentleness of Christ — who to your face, indeed, am lowly, but being far away am bold to you all! — 2 But I beg that being present, I do not have to be bold with confidence which I think to dare against those who account us as walking according to the flesh. 3 For walking in the flesh, we are not warring according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but with God are able to destroy strongholds, destroying arguments 5 and every lofty opinion being raised against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 and being ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.
7 Look at what is before your face. If anyone is persuading himself that he is Christ's, let him think of himself that as he is Christ's, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much about our authority which the Lord gave for building up and not for destroying you all, I will not be ashamedau 9 in order that I do not seemav as to be frightening to you all through my letters. 10 Since the letters, indeed they say, are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is of no account. 11 Let such a person think that what we say through letter while absent, so also we do while present. 12 For we do not dare to judgeaw or compare ourselves with some of those commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond measure, but according to the area of influenceax which God assigned to us to reach even to you all. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves as though we are not reaching you all, for we also came to you all in the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond measure in the labor of others. But having hope while your faith is being increased, our area of influence among you all may be greatly enlarged 16 to preach the gospel to the lands beyond not to boast in another's area of influence. 17 But the one boasting, boast in the Lord.ay 18 For it is not the one commending himself who is approved but the one the Lord commends.
Paul and the False Apostles
11I wish you all would bear with me in a little foolishness. But also bear with me! 2 For I am zealous of you all with a divine zeal, for I betrothed you all to one husband a pure virgin to present to Christ. 3 But I fear that as the serpent deceivedaz Eve in his craftiness, your thoughts may be corrupted from the sincerity and purity in Christ. 4 For indeed, if someone comes proclaiming another Jesus which we did not proclaim, or if you all receive a different spirit than the one you all received, or a different gospel than the one you all received, you all put up with it well. 5 For I consider I am not inferior to the super-apostles. 6 And even if I am ignorant in the word, I am not in knowledge but in every way manifesting to you all all things.
7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself in order that you all may be exalted because freely I preached the gospel of God to you all? 8 I robbed other churches, after accepting supportba to serve you all. 9 And while being present with you all and after being in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers coming from Macedonia supplied my need. And in every way, I refrained and will refrain from burdening you all. 10 The truth of Christ is in me that this boasting of me will be fenced in in the regions of Achaia. 11 For what? Because I do not love you all? God knows I do!
12 But what I am doing, I will continue to do in order that I might cut off the starting point of those wishing a starting point in order that in their boasting they might be found as we are. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants disguise themselves as servants of righteousness whose end will be according to their works.
Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle
16 Again I say, no one think I am foolish. But even if as a fool you all accept me in order that I also may boast a little. 17 What I say, I say not according to the Lord, but as a fool, in this boastful confidence. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For gladly you all bear with the fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you all bear it if someone makes slaves of you all, or someone devours you all, or if someone takes advantage of you all, or if someone exalts themselves, or if someone strikes you all in the face. 21 According to my dishonor, I say, as we have been weak.
But in whatever anyone dares — in foolishness I am speaking — I also dare. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one — I am talking like a madman — in far greater labor, far more imprisonments, in countless beatings, often near death. 24 Of the Jews, five times I received forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I had been adrift in the sea: 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and exposure. 28 Besides the outer things, there is pressure on me daily, the anxiety of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I am not inflamed with anger?
30 If it is necessary for me to boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus knows, He who is blessed forever that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus, the governor under King Areas was guarding the city of Damascus to seize me, 33 and through a window in a basket, I was let down through the wall and escaped his hands.
Paul's Visions and His Thorn
12 It is necessary to boast. Indeed, there is nothing to be gained, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ fourteen years ago whether in body I do not know or out of body I do not know. God knows, who was caught upbb to the third heaven. 3 And I know this man, whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know, God knows 4 that was caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words which is not lawful for man to speak. 5 On behalf of this man, I will boast, but on behalf of myself, I will not boast except of my weakness — 6 for if I wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain that no one may think more of me than he sees of me or hears of me 7 and the greatness of the revelations. Therefore, in order not to exalt myself, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, in order to harass me in order that I not exalt myself. 8 For this, three times I begged the Lord in order that it depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will more gladly boast in my weakness in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I am pleased in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak; then I am strong.
Concern for the Corinthian Church
11 I have been a fool! You all compelled me, for I ought to be commended by you all. For I was not inferior to these super apostles, even if I am nothing. 12 Indeed, the signs of the apostle were performed among you all in all patience with signs and wonders and powers. 13 For in what were you all less favored than the rest of the churches except that I myself did not burden you all? Forgive me this unrighteousness!
14 Behold a third time, I am ready to come to you all. And I will not be a burden, for I am not seeking what is yours but you all. For the children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but the parents for the children. 15 But I will gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you all abundantly, am I loved less? 16 But let it be. I did not burden you all, but I was crafty, deceitfully taking you all. 17 Some who I had sent to you all, through them did I take advantage of you all?bc 18 I implored Titus and sent him with the brother. Did Titus take advantage of you all?bd Did we not walk in the same spirit?be Did we not take the same steps?bf
19 Long ago, you all thought that we were defending ourselves to you all. In the sight of God with Christ, we speak, and all, beloved for your upbuilding. 20 For I fear somehow, after coming, I may find you all not as I wish, and I may be found by you all not as you all wish — somehow there may be strife, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. 21 Lest after coming again, my God may humble me before you all, and I may mourn over many of those, after having sinned earlier and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and sensuality which they practiced.
Final Warnings
13 This is the third time I am coming to you all. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word will be established.bg 2 I have foretold, and I do foretell as while I was present on my second visit and while being absent now, those who have sinned before and all the others that if I come again I will not spare them — 3 because you all seek proof Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak toward you all but powerful among you all. 4 For He was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we live with Him by the power of God towards you all.
5 Examine yourselves, if you all are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you all not know about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you all? — unless you all are rejected! 6 But I hope that you all will find out that we are not rejected. 7 But we pray to God you all do no wrong — not that we appear approved, but that you all may do what is right, and we may be as rejects. 8 For we are not able to do anything against the truth but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak, and you all may be strong, and this is what we pray for: your thorough equipping. 10 For this reason, I write these things while being away in order that while being present I may not be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not tearing down.
Final Greetings
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfect, comfort one another, be considerate of one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you all. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you all.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.