2 Corinthians 13

13 ¹ This is the third time I am coming to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." ² I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while I'm away from you, as I did when I was there the second time: if I come again, I will not spare them ³ —since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. ⁴ For he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of our Father. For we too are weak in him, yet in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of our Father.

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we ourselves have not failed the test.

⁷ Now we pray to our Father that you will not do anything wrong—not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot oppose the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We rejoice whenever we are weak and you are strong; and this is our prayer: that you may be fully restored. ¹⁰ This is why I write these things while I'm away, so that when I am with you I will not have to be harsh in how I use the authority the Lord gave me—for building you up, not for tearing you down.

The Father's Love and Peace

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace; and our Father of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³ All the holy ones greet you.

¹⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of our Father and the deep communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. ^a a v14 This closing blessing names all three Persons together—the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit—the apostolic echo of the priestly blessing that put our Father's name on his people.