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◄ BLB 2COR ►

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God being in Corinth, with all the saints being in all Achaia. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all comfort, 4 the One comforting us in all our tribulation, for us to be able to comfort those in every tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God, 5 because as the sufferings of the Christ abound toward us, so through Christ our comfort also abounds. 6 But if we are constricted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are encouraged, it is for your comfort, operating in the endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. 7 And our hope for you is sure, knowing that as you are partners of our sufferings, so also of our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant brothers, as to our affliction having happened in Asia, that we were weighed against excessively, beyond our power, so as for us to despair even to live. 9 Indeed we had in ourselves the sentence of death, in order that we should not be trusting in ourselves, but in God, the One raising the dead, 10 who has delivered us from such a great death and will deliver us, in whom we have hope that also He will deliver us still, 11 of you also joining together for us by supplication, so that thanks may be given for us by many persons for the grace bestowed toward us through many. 12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you, in the purity and sincerity of God, and not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God. 13 For we write no other things to you other than what you read or even understand. And I hope that you will understand to the end, 14 as also you have understood us in part, so that we are your boasting, even as you are also ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus. 15 And with this confidence I was planning to come to you previously, so that you might have a second blessing of grace, 16 and through you to pass through into Macedonia, and to come to you again from Macedonia, and to be set forward by you to Judea. 17 Thus purposing, therefore then, did I use lightness? Or do I purpose what I purpose according to flesh, so that with me there should be "Yes, yes" and "No, no"? 18 But God is faithful, that our word to you was not "Yes" and "No." 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, having been proclaimed among you by us--by me and Silvanus and Timothy--was not "Yes" and "No," but it has always been "Yes" in Him. 20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Him is the "Yes." Therefore also in Him, the "Amen" by us is for glory to God. 21 Now the One establishing us with you unto Christ, and having anointed us, is God, 22 the One also having sealed us and having given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts. 23 But I call God as witness upon my soul, that sparing you, I have not yet come to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are fellow workers with you of joy; for in the faith you stand firm. 2 For I judged this within myself, not to come to you again in grief. 2 For if I grieve you again, who is making me glad, except the one being grieved by me? 3 And I wrote this same thing, so that having come, I might not have grief from those of whom it behooves me to rejoice, trusting in you all, that my joy is shared by all of you. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote to you through many tears, not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love that I have more abundantly toward you. 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he not grieved me, but--in part, that I might not put it too severely--you all. 6 The punishment which is by the majority is sufficient to such a one, 7 so that on the contrary, rather for you to forgive and to comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be overwhelmed by more abundant sorrow. 8 Therefore I exhort you to confirm your love toward him. 9 For this indeed also did I write, so that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient to everything. 10 Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; and indeed to whom I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for the sake of you, in the person of Christ, 11 so that we should not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes. 12 Now having come to Troas for the gospel of Christ, a door also having been opened to me in the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, in my not finding Titus my brother. Instead, having taken leave of them, I went out to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph in Christ, and through us in every place making manifest the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. 15 For we are a sweet perfume of Christ to God in those being saved and in those perishing: 16 to one indeed an odor from death to death, and to the other a fragrance from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, we speak before God in Christ. 3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or like some, do we need commendatory letters to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, having been inscribed in our hearts, being known and being read by all men, 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, having been ministered to by us, having been inscribed not in ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Now we have such confidence through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient from ourselves to reckon anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, 6 who also has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, having been engraved in letters on stones, was produced in glory, so as for the sons of Israel not to be able to look intently into the face of Moses, on account of the glory of his face which is fading, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more in glory? 9 For if glory was in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory! 10 For even that having been made glorious has not been glorified in this respect, on account of the glory surpassing it. 11 For if that which is fading away was through glory, much more is that remaining in glory! 12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness, 13 and not as Moses would put a veil over his face for the sons of Israel not to look intently into the end of that fading away. 14 But their minds were hardened; for until the present day, the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant, not being lifted, which is being removed in Christ. 15 But unto this day, when Moses shall be read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 But whenever one shall have turned to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. 4 Because of this, having this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God. 3 But if indeed our gospel is concealed, it is concealed to those who are perishing, 4 in whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so as for not to beam forth the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord; and ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus. 6 For it is God, having said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," who shone in our hearts for the radiance of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 Now we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be from God, and not from us, 8 being hard pressed in every way but not being crushed, being perplexed but not despairing, 9 being persecuted but not being forsaken, being struck down but not being destroyed, 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus also should be manifested in our body. 11 For we the living are always being delivered to death on account of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith according to that having been written: "I believed, therefore I have spoken," we also believe and therefore speak, 14 knowing that the One having raised up the Lord Jesus also will raise us up through Jesus and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sake, so that the grace having abounded through more and more people may increase the thanksgiving to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart; but indeed if our outward man is being brought to decay, yet our inner self is being renewed day and day. 17 For the momentary lightness of our affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory, far surpassing to excessiveness. 18 We are not looking at the things being seen, but the things not being seen. For the things being seen are temporary, but the things not being seen are eternal. 5 For we know that if the tent of our earthly house should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 And indeed, in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling which is from heaven, 3 if indeed also having been clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 And indeed, being in the tent we groan, being burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that the mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the One having prepared us for this very purpose is God, having given to us the pledge of the Spirit, 6 always being confident, then, and knowing that, being at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Now we are confident and are pleased rather to be absent out of the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore also we are ambitious, whether being at home or being away, to be well-pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ, that each may receive back the things done through the body according to what he did, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. And we have been made manifest to God, and I hope to have been made manifest in your consciences also. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving to you occasion of boasting on behalf of us, so that you may have an answer toward those boasting in appearance, and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or if we are sober-minded it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this, that One has died for all, therefore all have died. 15 And He died for all that those living no longer should live to themselves, but to the One having died for them and having been raised again. 16 Therefore from now, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have regarded Christ according to flesh, yet now we regard Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being. 18 Now all things are of God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and having given to us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 how that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning their trespasses to them, and having put into us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is beseeching through us. We implore on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God. 21 He made the One not having known sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 6 And working together, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In the acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the time of favor; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 Placing no obstacle in anyone's way so that our ministry should not be blemished, 4 in everything, rather, we are commending ourselves as God's servants: in great endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses; 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness; in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love; 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report; as imposters and yet true; 9 as being unknown and yet being well-known; as dying and yet, behold, we live; as being punished and yet not being killed; 10 as being sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. 11 Our mouth has been opened to you, Corinthians; our heart has been expanded. 12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. 13 Now as the same recompense, I speak as to children, be you expanded also. 14 Do not become unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 And what harmony has Christ with Belial? Or what part to a believer is with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them, and will walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people." 17 "Therefore come out from their midst and be separate, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean, and I will receive you." 18 and "I will be for a father to you, and you will be for sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty." 7 Therefore having these promises, beloved, we should cleanse ourselves from every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Make room for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not speak for condemnation; for I have before said that you are in our hearts for us to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness toward you; great my boasting on behalf of you; I have been filled with encouragement; I overabound with joy upon all our affliction. 5 And indeed, of us having come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest; but we are being pressed in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, the One comforting the downcast, encouraged us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted as to you, relating to us your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so as for me to rejoice the more. 8 For if also I have grieved you in the letter, I do not regret it. For even if I did regret it, I see that the letter grieved you, even if for an hour. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved into repentance. For you were grieved according to God, so that you might suffer loss in nothing through us. 10 For grief according to God produces repentance to salvation without regret; but the world's grief produces death. 11 For behold, how much earnestness this very same thing--to have been grieved according to God--has produced in you: but reasoned defense, but indignation, but fear, but longing, but zeal, but vindication! In everything, you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even if I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one having done wrong, nor for the sake of the one having suffered wrong, but rather for the sake of your earnestness for us being revealed to you before God. 13 On account of this, we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we have rejoiced the more abundantly rather at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 For if I have boasted anything to him about you, I was not put to shame; but as we have spoken all things to you in truth, so also our boasting to Titus became truth. 15 And his affections are more abundantly toward you, remembering the obedience of all of you, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice that in everything I am confident in you. 8 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God having been bestowed among the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in much proof of tribulation, the abundance of their joy and of their deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity. 3 For I testify that according to their ability and beyond their ability, they were willing of themselves, 4 imploring of us with much entreaty for the grace and the fellowship of the service among the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, by the will of God. 6 Accordingly, we exhorted Titus that as he had begun, so also he might complete with you this grace as well. 7 But even as you abound in every way--in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love from us to you--that also you should abound in this grace. 8 I do not speak as a command, but proving the genuineness of your love through the earnestness of others also. 9 For you know the grace our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich, for the sake of you He became poor, so that you through His poverty might be enriched. 10 And I give a judgment in this matter, for this is profitable for you who not only have begun from a year ago to act, but also to will. 11 And now also complete the doing, so that just as there was the readiness to will, so also there may be to complete, out of that which you have. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable as if he might have, not as he does not have. 13 For this is not that to others there may be ease, but for you affliction; but of equality. 14 At the present time, your abundance will be for their need, so that their abundance also may be for your need, so that there may be equality. 15 As it has been written: "He the much did not abound, and he the little had no lack." 16 But thanks to God, the One putting into the heart of Titus the same earnestness for you. 17 For indeed he accepted our appeal, but being very earnest, of his own accord he has gone out to you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is through all of the churches, 19 and not only that, but also having been chosen by the churches, he is our fellow traveler with this grace that is being administered by us toward the glory of the Lord himself and our readiness, 20 avoiding this, lest anyone should blame us in this abundance being administered by us. 21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only before the Lord, but also before men. 22 Now we sent with them our brother, whom we have proven often in many things to be earnest, but now much more earnest by his confidence which is toward you. 23 Whether as regards Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; or our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show to them the proof of your love and of our boasting about you in the face of the churches. 9 For it is superfluous for me to write to you now concerning the service for the saints. 2 For I know your readiness, which I boast of to Macedonians concerning you, that Achaia has been prepared from a year ago, and your zeal has been provoking the greater number. 3 But I have sent the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not be made void, that you may be prepared, as I have been saying. 4 Otherwise, if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we--not that we might say you--would be put to shame in this confidence. 5 Therefore I esteemed it necessary to exhort the brothers that they should go before unto you and should complete beforehand your foreannounced blessing, thus this to be ready as a blessing, and not as covetousness. 6 Now this: The one sowing sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one sowing upon blessings will also reap upon blessings, 7 each as he purposes in the heart, not out of regret or of necessity. For God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in every way, always, having all sufficiency, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it has been written: "He has scattered abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness abides to the age." 10 Now the One supplying seed to the one sowing and bread for food will supply and will multiply your seed for sowing and will increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 enriching you in every way to all generosity, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only completely filling up the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God, 13 through the proof of this service, glorifying God at your submission of confession to the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of the participation toward them and toward all. 14 And their supplication is for you, longing for you on account of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 10 Now I, Paul, myself exhort you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who indeed as to appearance am humble among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 Now I implore you that being present, I need not to be bold with the confidence with which I reckon to be daring toward some reckoning us as walking according to flesh. 3 For walking in flesh, we do not wage war according to flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but divinely powerful toward the demolition of strongholds, 5 overthrowing arguments, and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ, 6 and having readiness within to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience may have been fulfilled. 7 You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is persuaded in himself to be of Christ, let him reckon this within himself again, that as he is of Christ, so also are we. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord has given us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed, 9 so that I might not seem as if to frighten you by means of the letters. 10 For they say, "The letters indeed are weighty and strong, but the presence of the body is weak, and the speech having been ignored." 11 Let such a one reckon this, that such as we are in word by letters being absent, also such we are in action being present. 12 For we dare not to classify or to compare ourselves with some commending themselves. But these, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, do not understand. 13 But we will not boast into the things beyond measure, but according to the measure of the area that God has assigned to us, a measure to reach also as far as you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as not reaching to you. For we came also as far as you in the gospel of Christ, 15 not boasting to the things beyond measure in others' labors, but having hope of your faith increasing, to be enlarged to abundance among you according to our area, 16 so as to preach the gospel beyond you, not to boast in things already in another's area. 17 But, "The one boasting, let him boast in the Lord." 18 For the one commending himself, this one is not approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. 11 I wish you were bearing with me a little in foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous as to you with the jealousy of God. For I have betrothed you to one husband, to present a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid, lest by any means, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity in Christ. 4 For if indeed the one coming proclaims another Jesus whom we did not proclaim, or you receive a different spirit whom you did not receive, or a different gospel which you did not accept, you are bearing with it well. 5 For I reckon in nothing to have been inferior to those "most eminent apostles." 6 But even if I am unpolished in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; but in every way, we have been made manifest to you in all things. 7 Or did I commit a sin, humbling myself, so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you freely? 8 I robbed other churches, having received support for service toward you. 9 And being present with you and having been in need, I did not burden anyone; for the brothers having come from Macedonia completely filled up my need, and in everything I kept and will keep myself unburdensome to you. 10 The truth of Christ is in me, that this boasting of mine will not be sealed up in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 But what I do, I will continue doing, so that I might cut off the opportunity of those desiring an opportunity that they might be found as also we in what they are boasting. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. 16 Again I say, no one should think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me even as a fool, that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying in this confidence of boasting, I am not saying according to the Lord, but as in foolishness. 18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For being wise, you bear with fools gladly! 20 For you bear it if anyone enslaves you, if anyone devours you, if anyone takes from you, if anyone exalts himself, if anyone strikes you in your face. 21 I speak as to dishonor, as that we have been weak! But in whatever anyone might dare--I speak in foolishness--I also am daring. 22 Are they Hebrews? I also. Are they Israelites? I also. Are they descendants of Abraham? I also. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I speak as being beside myself, I too above measure: more abundantly in labors, more abundantly in imprisonments, in beatings above measure, in deaths often. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I have passed a night and a day in the deep sea; 26 in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers; in perils from my own race, in perils from the Gentiles; in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness; in perils on the sea, in perils among false brothers; 27 in labor and toil, often in watchings; in hunger and thirst, often in fastings; in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides the external things, the pressure on me on every day is my care for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn inwardly? 30 If it behooves me to boast, I will boast in the things of my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, the One being blessed to the ages, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under the king Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes to seize me. 33 But I was let down in a basket through a window through the wall, and I escaped his hands. 12 It behooves me to boast; it is not profitable indeed, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago--whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows--such a man, having been caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man--whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows-- 4 that he was caught up into Paradise, and he heard inexpressible words, not being permitted to man to speak. 5 Concerning such a man I will boast; but concerning myself I will not boast, except in the weaknesses. 6 For if I should desire to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should credit to me more than what he sees in me, or anyone hears of me, 7 and the surpassingness of the revelations. Therefore, that I should not become conceited, a thorn in my flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, that he might buffet me, so that I should not become conceited. 8 Three times I begged the Lord for this, that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace suffices you, for the power is perfected in weakness." Therefore will I boast rather most gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, and difficulties for Christ; for when I might be weak, then I am strong. 11 I have become a fool; you compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you, for in no way was I inferior to those "most eminent apostles," even though I am nothing. 12 For the signs of the apostle were performed among you in all perseverance, and in signs, and wonders, and miracles. 13 For in what is it that you were inferior beyond the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! 14 Behold, this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not burden you. For I do not seek what is yours, but you. For the children ought not to treasure up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 Now I will spend most gladly, and will be utterly spent, for your souls. If loving you more abundantly, am I loved less? 16 But be it so, I did not burden you; but being crafty, I caught you by trickery. 17 By any of whom I have sent to you, did I exploit you by him? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent with him our brother. Did Titus exploit you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Not in the same steps? 19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been making a defense to you? We speak in Christ before God, but all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest perhaps having come, I may not find you such as I wish, and I might be found by you such as you do not wish; lest perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, contentions, slander, gossip, conceit, disorder; 21 lest of my having come again, my God should humble me as to you, and I should mourn over many of those having before sinned and not having repented of the impurity, and sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced. 13 This third time I am coming to you. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter will be established." 2 I have warned as being present the second time, and being absent now; and I warn those having sinned before and all the rest that, if I come to the same again, I will not spare anyone, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. 4 For indeed He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by God's power toward you. 5 Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not recognize yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are unapproved? 6 And I hope that you will realize that we are not unapproved. 7 Now I pray to God for you to do nothing wrong. Not that we might appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we might appear as unapproved. 8 For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we might be weak, but you might be strong. But this also we pray: for your perfection. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, so that being present I should not treat you with severity according to the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down. 11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected, be exhorted, be of the same mind, be at 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, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.