1 This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.2 I 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.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,4 for 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,)5 examine 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?6 Now I hope that ye will know that *we* are not reprobates.7 But 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.8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.9 For we rejoice when *we* may be weak and *ye* may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.10 On 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.11 For 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.12 Salute one another with a holy kiss.13 All the saints salute you.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, {be} with you all.
1 这是我第三次到你们那里去， 各样事情必须凭两三个证人的口， 才能确定。 2 我第二次到你们那里去的时候说过， 现今不在你们那里， 再预先对那些从前犯了罪的和其余的人说： 我若再来， 必不宽容， 3 因为你们在找基督借着我说话的凭据。基督对你们不是软弱的， 相反地， 在你们身上是有能力的。 4 他因着软弱被钉死了， 却靠着 神的大能活着。我们在他里面也是软弱的， 但靠着 神向你们所显的大能， 也必与他一同活着。 5 你们应当察验自己是不是持守着信仰， 也应当考验自己。难道不晓得基督耶稣是在你们里面吗？（除非你们是经不起考验的人。） 6 我盼望你们晓得， 我们不是经不起考验的人。 7 我们祈求 神， 使你们不作什么恶事。这并不是要显明我们是经得起考验的， 而是要你们行善； 我们呢， 就让我们作经不起考验的人好了！ 8 我们不能作什么事违背真理， 只能维护真理。 9 当我们软弱、你们刚强的时候， 我们就欢喜； 我们所求的， 就是要你们完全。 10 因此， 我趁着不在你们那里的时候， 把这些话写给你们， 到我来了， 就不必凭着主所给我的权柄严厉地对待你们。这权柄不是要拆毁你们， 而是要建立你们。 11 最后， 弟兄们， 你们要喜乐， 要完全， 要受安慰， 要同心， 要和睦。这样， 施慈爱赐平安的 神必与你们同在。 12 你们要用圣洁的亲嘴彼此问安。 13 众圣徒都问候你们。 14 愿主耶稣基督的恩惠， 神的慈爱， 圣灵的契通， 常与你们众人同在。