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 my third visit to you. The Holy Writings tell us that when people think someone has done wrong, it must be proven by two or three people who saw the wrong being done.

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—

During my second visit I talked to you who have been sinning and to all the others. While I am away, I tell you this again. The next time I come I will be hard on those who sin.

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

Since you want to know, I will prove to you that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when He works in your hearts. He uses His power in 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.

Christ’s weak human body died on a cross. It is by God’s power that Christ lives today. We are weak. We are as He was. But we will be alive with Christ through the power God has for us.

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.

Put yourselves through a test. See if you belong to Christ. Then you will know you belong to Christ, unless you do not pass the test.

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

I trust you see that we belong to Him and have passed the test.

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.

We pray to God that you do no wrong. We do not pray this to show that our teaching is so great, but that you will keep on doing what is right, even if it looks as if we have done much wrong.

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

We cannot work against the truth of God. We only work for it.

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.

We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. We pray that you will become strong Christians.

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

This is why I am writing these things while I am away from you. Then when I get there, I will not have to use strong words or punish you to show you that the Lord gives me this power. This power is to be used to make you stronger Christians, not to make you weak by hurting your faith.

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.

Last of all, Christian brothers, good-bye. Do that which makes you complete. Be comforted. Work to get along with others. Live in peace. The God of love and peace will be with you.

12 G reet one another with a holy kiss.

Greet each other with a kiss of holy love.

13 A ll the saints greet you.

All those here who belong to Christ say hello.

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.

May you have loving-favor from our Lord Jesus Christ. May you have the love of God. May you be joined together by the Holy Spirit.