Warning of Impending Discipline (13:1–4)
1 This is the third time I will come to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter will be established” [Deut. 19:15]. 2 I have warned those who sinned before as well as all the others, like I did when I was present on my second visit and I am now warning them when I am not present, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone 3 since you demand proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you. 4 For indeed, he was crucified because of weakness, and yet he lives because of the power of God. For indeed we are weak in him, but we shall live together with him because of the power of God toward you.
A Plea for Self-Examination (13:5–10)
5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith! Examine yourselves! Or don’t you realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail the test. 6 Now I hope you will understand that we have not failed the test. 7 And we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong, not so that we will appear to have passed the test, but so that you will do what is right even if we seem to have failed the test. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth but for the sake of truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak, but you are strong. Indeed, this is what we pray for: your inner strength. 10 Therefore, I write these things when I am absent so that when I am present, I may not have to deal with you severely according to the authority the Lord has given me for the purpose of building up and not for tearing down.
Conclusion (13:11–13)
11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the companionship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
