1 This is the third time I am coming to you.  * 13:1 2Co 12:14Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.* 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:15,* 13:1 Dt 17:6; 19:152 I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning  * 13:2 Gl 5:21; 1Th 3:4 while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, 3 since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me.  * 13:3 Mt 10:20; 1Co 5:4 He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified  * 13:4 Mt 27:22; Php 2:7–8 in weakness, but he lives  * 13:4 Rm 14:9; Php 1:21; 1Pt 3:18 by the power of God. For we also are weak in him,  * 13:4 2Co 12:10 but in dealing with you we will live  * 13:4 Rm 6:4,8 with him by God’s power.

5 Test  * 13:5 Jms 1:13 yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test.  * 13:5 Or you are disqualified, or you are counterfeit6 And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7 But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong — not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right,  * 13:7 1Pt 2:12 even though we may appear to fail. 8 For we can’t do anything against the truth,  * 13:8 2Th 2:10 but only for the truth. 9 We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong.  * 13:9 Ac 25:5 We also pray that you become fully mature.  * 13:9 Or become complete, or be restored10 This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up  * 13:10 1Co 14:3 and not for tearing down.  * 13:10 2Co 10:4,8

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice.  * 13:11 Or farewell Become mature, be encouraged,  * 13:11 Or listen to my appeal be of the same mind,  * 13:11 Rm 12:16; Php 1:7 be at peace,  * 13:11 Mk 9:50; Rm 16:20; 2Tm 1:2 and the God of love  * 13:11 1Jn 4:16 and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.  * 13:12 Rm 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 1Th 5:26; 1Pt 5:14 All the saints send you greetings.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love  * 13:13 1Co 13:1; 1Jn 4:16 of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  * 13:12–13 Some translations divide these two vv. into three vv. so that v. 13 begins with All the saints . . .and v. 14 begins with The grace of . . .,* 13:13 2Th 3:16