1This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.
2I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,
4for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power; for indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live with him by God's power towards you,)
5examine your own selves if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: do ye not recognise yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?
6Now I hope that ye will know that we are not reprobates.
7But we pray to God that ye may do nothing evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is right, and we be as reprobates.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we rejoice when we may be weak and ye may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.
10On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.
11For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Salute one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.