1This is the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two witnesses or three every matter shall be established.”
2I have said beforehand, and I say beforehand—as when present the second time, and being now absent—to those who sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare,
3since you seek proof of the Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.
4For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, yet we will live with him by the power of God toward you.
5Test yourselves, whether you are in the faith; examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are failing the test.
6But I hope that you will know that we ourselves are not failing the test.
7Now we pray to God that you may do no evil—not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is good, though we ourselves may be as those who fail the test.
8For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9For we rejoice whenever we are weak and you are strong; this also we pray for—your restoration.
10For this reason I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not deal severely, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
11Finally, brothers, rejoice; be restored, be encouraged, be of the same mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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