1 T his will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

This is the third time that I am coming to you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses must any charge and every accusing statement be sustained and confirmed.

2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare—

I have already warned those who sinned formerly and all the rest also, and I warn them now again while I am absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come back, I will not spare,

3 s ince you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

Since you desire and seek proof of the Christ Who speaks in and through me. is not weak and feeble in dealing with you, but is a mighty power within you;

4 F or though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives 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.

For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him, yet in dealing with you alive and strong in Him by the power of God.

5 E xamine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves '> not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are disapproved on trial and rejected?

6 B ut I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. Paul Prefers Gentleness

But I hope you will recognize and know that we are not disapproved on trial and rejected.

7 N ow I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not in order that we '> our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing right, we may seem to have failed and be unapproved.

8 F or we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we can do nothing against the Truth '> not serve any party or personal interest], but only for the Truth '> which is the Gospel].

9 F or we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

For we are glad when we are weak ( unapproved) and you are really strong. And this we also pray for: your all-round strengthening and perfecting of soul.

10 T herefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. Greetings and Benediction

So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

11 F inally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same mind one with another; live in peace, and the God of love and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

12 G reet one another with a holy kiss.

Greet one another with a consecrated kiss.

13 A ll the saints greet you.

All the saints (the people of God here) salute you.

14 T he grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).