Christian Basics Bible - Flipbook - Page 45
page 1335 • 2 Corinthians 13
God as our witness. Everything we do, dear
friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am
afraid that when I come I won’t like what I
find, and you won’t like my response. I am
afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy,
anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am
afraid that when I come again, God will
humble me in your presence. And I will be
grieved because many of you have not given
up your old sins. You have not repented of
your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
Paul’s Final Advice
This is the third time I am coming
to visit you (and as the Scriptures
say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses”*). 2 I have already warned those
who had been sinning when I was there on
my second visit. Now I again warn them and
all others, just as I did before, that next time
I will not spare them.
3
I will give you all the proof you want that
Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak
when he deals with you; he is powerful
among you. 4 Although he was crucified in
weakness, he now lives by the power of
God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was,
but when we deal with you we will be alive
with him and will have God’s power.
5
Examine yourselves to see if your faith is
genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know
that Jesus Christ is among you*; if not, you
13
have failed the test of genuine faith. 6 As you
test yourselves, I hope you will recognize
that we have not failed the test of apostolic
authority.
7
We pray to God that you will not do what
is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope
we won’t need to demonstrate our authority
when we arrive. Do the right thing before
we come—even if that makes it look like we
have failed to demonstrate our authority.
8
For we cannot oppose the truth, but must
always stand for the truth. 9 We are glad to
seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become
mature.
10
I am writing this to you before I come,
hoping that I won’t need to deal severely
with you when I do come. For I want to
use the authority the Lord has given me to
strengthen you, not to tear you down.
Paul’s Final Greetings
Dear brothers and sisters,* I close my
letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow
to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in
harmony and peace. Then the God of love
and peace will be with you.
12
Greet each other with a sacred kiss.
13
All of God’s people here send you their
greetings.
14
*May the grace of the Lord J esus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
11
13:1 Deut 19:15. 13:5 Or in you.
13:11 Greek Brothers.
13:14 Some English translations include verse 13 as part of
verse 12, and then verse 14 becomes verse 13.
