2 Corinthians Contemporary English Version (CEV)

chapter 1

1From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ, and from Timothy, who is also a follower. 

To God's church in Corinth and to all of God's people in Achaia.

2I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 

Paul Gives Thanks

3Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.4He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble. 5We share in the terrible sufferings of Christ, but also in the wonderful comfort he gives. 6We suffer in the hope that you will be comforted and saved. And because we are comforted, you will also be comforted, as you patiently endure suffering like ours. 7You never disappoint us. You suffered as much as we did, and we knowthat you will be comforted as we were.8My friends, I want you to know what a hard time we had in Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and sounbearable that death seemed certain. 9In fact, we felt sure that we were going to die. But this made usstop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. 10God saved us from the threatof death, and we are sure that he will do it again and again. 11Please help us by praying for us. Then manypeople will give thanks for the blessings we receive in answer to all these prayers.Paul's Change of Plans12We can be proud of our clear conscience. We have always lived honestly and sincerely, especially when wewere with you. And we were guided by God's wonderful kindness instead of by the wisdom of this world. 13Iam not writing anything you cannot read and understand. I hope you will understand it completely, 14just asyou already partly understand us. Then when our Lord Jesus returns, you can be as proud of us as we are ofyou.15I was so sure of your pride in us that I had planned to visit you first of all. In this way you would have theblessing of two visits from me. 16Once on my way to Macedonia and again on my return from there. Then youcould send me on to Judea. 17Do you think I couldn't make up my mind about what to do? Or do I seem likesomeone who says "Yes" or "No" simply to please others? 18God can be trusted, and so can I, when I saythat our answer to you has always been "Yes" and never "No." 19This is because Jesus Christ the Son of Godis always "Yes" and never "No." And he is the one that Silas, Timothy, and I told you about. 20Christ says"Yes" to all of God's promises. That's why we have Christ to say "Amen" for us to the glory of God. 21And soGod makes it possible for you and us to stand firmly together with Christ. God is also the one who chose us22and put his Spirit in our hearts to show that we belong only to him. 23God is my witness that I stayedaway from Corinth, just to keep from being hard on you. 24We are not bosses who tell you what to believe.We are working with you to make you glad, because your faith is strong.

chapter 2

1I have decided not to make my next visit with you so painful. 2If I make you feel bad, who would be left tocheer me up, except the people I had made to feel bad? 3The reason I want to be happy is to make youhappy. I wrote as I did because I didn't want to visit you and be made to feel bad, when you should make mefeel happy. 4At the time I wrote, I was suffering terribly. My eyes were full of tears, and my heart wasbroken. But I didn't want to make you feel bad. I only wanted to let you know how much I cared for you.Forgiveness5I don't want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one whohas been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones. 6Most of you have already pointed out the wrong thatperson did, and that is punishment enough for what was done.7When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won't give up in despair. 8You should makethem sure of your love for them.9I also wrote because I wanted to test you and find out if you would follow my instructions. 10I will forgiveanyone you forgive. Yes, for your sake and with Christ as my witness, I have forgiven whatever needed to beforgiven. 11I have done this to keep Satan from getting the better of us. We all know what goes on in hismind.12When I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ, I found that the Lord had already preparedthe way. 13But I was worried when I didn't find my friend Titus there. So I left the other followers and wenton to Macedonia.14I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spreadthe knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. 15-16In fact, Godthinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone. For people who are being saved, this perfume has asweet smell and leads them to a better life. But for people who are lost, it has a bad smell and leads them toa horrible death.No one really has what it takes to do this work. 17A lot of people try to get rich from preaching God'smessage. But we are God's sincere messengers, and by the power of Christ we speak our message with Godas our witness.

chapter 3

God's New Agreement1Are we once again bragging about ourselves? Do we need letters to you or from you to tell others about us?Some people do need letters that tell about them. 2But you are our letter, and you are in our hearts foreveryone to read and understand. 3You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are notwritten with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the livingGod. 4We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God. 5We don't have the rightto claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do. 6He makesus worthy to be the servants of his new agreement that comes from the Holy Spirit and not from a writtenLaw. After all, the Law brings death, but the Spirit brings life.7The Law of Moses brought only the promise of death, even though it was carved on stones and given in awonderful way. Still the Law made Moses' face shine so brightly that the people of Israel could not look at it,even though it was a fading glory. 8So won't the agreement that the Spirit brings to us be even morewonderful? 9If something that brings the death sentence is glorious, won't something that makes usacceptable to God be even more glorious? 10In fact, the new agreement is so wonderful that the Law is nolonger glorious at all. 11The Law was given with a glory that faded away. But the glory of the new agreementis much greater, because it will never fade away.12This wonderful hope makes us feel like speaking freely. 13We are not like Moses. His face was shining, buthe covered it to keep the people of Israel from seeing the brightness fade away. 14The people werestubborn, and something still keeps them from seeing the truth when the Law is read. Only Christ can takeaway the covering that keeps them from seeing.15When the Law of Moses is read, they have their minds covered over 16with a covering that is removed onlyfor those who turn to the Lord. 17The Lord and the Spirit are one and the same, and the Lord's Spirit sets usfree. 18So our faces are not covered. They show the bright glory of the Lord, as the Lord's Spirit makes usmore and more like our glorious Lord.

chapter 4

Treasure in Clay Jars1God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. That's why we never give up. 2We don't do shamefulthings that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is ourwitness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure that we can be trusted. 3If there is anythinghidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.4The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is thegood news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. 5We are not preaching about ourselves. Ourmessage is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. 6The Scriptures say, "Godcommanded light to shine in the dark." Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seenin Jesus Christ.7We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. 8Weoften suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. 9In times oftrouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11We face death every daybecause of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so that his life can also be seen in us. 12Thismeans that death is working in us, but life is working in you.13In the Scriptures it says, "I spoke because I had faith." We have that same kind of faith. So we speak14because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise usto life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15All of this has been done for you, so thatmore and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.Faith in the Lord16We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day.17These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem likenothing. 18Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That's why wekeep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.

chapter 5

1Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know thatGod will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but theyare in heaven and will last forever. 2While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in thatheavenly home. 3We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.4These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because wewant to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die.5God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it.6So always be cheerful!As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7But we live by faith, not by what we see.8We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9Butwhether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. 10After all, Christwill judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.Bringing People to God11We know what it means to respect the Lord, and we encourage everyone to turn to him. God himself knowswhat we are like, and I hope you also know what kind of people we are. 12We are not trying once more tobrag about ourselves. But we want you to be proud of us, when you are with those who are not sincere andbrag about what others think of them.13If we seem out of our minds, it is between God and us. But if we are in our right minds, it is for your good.14We are ruled by Christ's love for us. We are certain that if one person died for everyone else, then all of ushave died. 15And Christ did die for all of us. He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for the onewho died and was raised to life for us.16We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way.17Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18God hasdone it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of makingpeace between himself and others.19What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And hehas given us the work of sharing his message about peace. 20We were sent to speak for Christ, and God isbegging you to listen to our message. We speak for Christ and sincerely ask you to make peace with God.21Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so that Christ could make us acceptable to God. 

chapter 6

1We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God's kindness to you. 2In the ScripturesGod says,"When the time came,I listened to you,and when you needed help,I came to save you."That time has come. This is the day for you to be saved.3We don't want anyone to find fault with our work, and so we try hard not to cause problems. 4But ineverything and in every way we show that we truly are God's servants. We have always been patient, thoughwe have had a lot of trouble, suffering, and hard times. 5We have been beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots.We have worked hard and have gone without sleep or food. 6But we have kept ourselves pure and have beenunderstanding, patient, and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real. 7We havespoken the truth, and God's power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what isright.8Whether we were honored or dishonored or praised or cursed, we always told the truth about ourselves. Butsome people said we did not. 9We are unknown to others, but well known to you. We seem to be dying, andyet we are still alive. We have been punished, but never killed, 10and we are always happy, even in times ofsuffering. Although we are poor, we have made many people rich. And though we own nothing, everything isours.11Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. 12We arenot holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. 13I speak to you as Iwould speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.The Temple of the Living God14Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along withsomeone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? 15Is Christ a friend of Satan? Can people who followthe Lord have anything in common with those who don't? 16Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are thetemple of the living God, as God himself says, "I will live with these peopleand walk among them.I will be their God,and they will bemy people."17The Lord also says,"Leave them and stay away!Don't touch anythingthat isn't clean.Then I will welcome you18and be your Father.You will be my sonsand my daughters,as surely as I am God,the All-Powerful."

chapter 7

1My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from everything that keeps our bodiesand spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him.The Church Makes Paul Happy2Make a place for us in your hearts! We haven't mistreated or hurt anyone. We haven't cheated anyone. 3Iam not saying this to be hard on you. But, as I have said before, you will always be in our thoughts, whetherwe live or die. 4I trust you completely. I am always proud of you, and I am greatly encouraged. In all mytrouble I am still very happy. 5After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We werefaced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears. 6But God cheers uppeople in need, and that is what he did when he sent Titus to us. 7Of course, we were glad to see Titus, butwhat really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned youwere about me. And this made me even happier.8I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. Iknow that the letter hurt you for a while. 9Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It isbecause God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us.10When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel badabout. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death. 11Just look what God has done bymaking you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove that you are innocent. You are angry. You are shocked.You are eager to see that justice is done. You have proved that you were completely right in this matter.12When I wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for the one who was hurt. Iwrote, so that God would show you how much you do care for us. 13And we were greatly encouraged.Although we were encouraged, we felt even better when we saw how happy Titus was, because you hadshown that he had nothing to worry about. 14We had told him how much we thought of you, and you did notdisappoint us. Just as we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you has alsoproved to be true. 15Titus loves all of you very much, especially when he remembers how you obeyed himand how you trembled with fear when you welcomed him. 16It makes me really glad to know that I candepend on you.

chapter 8

Generous Giving1My friends, we want you to know that the churches in Macedonia have shown others how kind God is.2Although they were going through hard times and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. 3Theygave as much as they could afford and even more, simply because they wanted to. 4They even asked andbegged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God's people. 5And they did more than we hadhoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do. 6Titus wasthe one who got you started doing this good thing, so we begged him to have you finish what you had begun.7You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger faith. You speak better and know more. Youare eager to give, and you love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else. 8I am notordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love is by comparing it with the concern that othershave shown. 9You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor,so that you could become rich.10A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice.11I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove that youare as eager to give as you were to think about giving. 12It doesn't matter how much you have. Whatmatters is how much you are willing to give from what you have.13I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair 14for you toshare with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough,and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share, 15just as the Scripturessay,"Those who gatheredtoo muchhad nothing left.Those who gatheredonly a littlehad all they needed."Titus and His Friends16I am grateful that God made Titus care as much about you as we do. 17When we begged Titus to visityou, he said he would. He wanted to because he cared so much for you. 18With Titus we are also sendingone of the Lord's followers who is well known in every church for spreading the good news. 19The churcheschose this follower to travel with us while we carry this gift that will bring praise to the Lord and show howmuch we hope to help. 20We don't want anyone to find fault with the way we handle your generous gift.21But we want to do what pleases the Lord and what people think is right.22We are also sending someone else with Titus and the other follower. We approve of this man. In fact, hehas already shown us many times that he wants to help. And now he wants to help even more than ever,because he trusts you so much. 23Titus is my partner, who works with me to serve you. The other twofollowers are sent by the churches, and they bring honor to Christ. 24Treat them in such a way that thechurches will see your love and will know why we bragged about you.

chapter 9

The Money for God's People1I don't need to write you about the money you plan to give for God's people. 2I know how eager you are togive. And I have proudly told the Lord's followers in Macedonia that you people in Achaia have been ready fora whole year. Now your desire to give has made them want to give. 3That's why I am sending Titus and thetwo others to you. I want you to be ready, just as I promised. This will prove that we were not wrong to bragabout you.4Some followers from Macedonia may come with me, and I want them to find that you have the money ready.If you don't, I would be embarrassed for trusting you to do this. But you would be embarrassed even more.5So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way theycan arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because youwant to, and not because you feel forced to.6Remember this saying,"A few seeds makea small harvest,but a lot of seeds makea big harvest."7Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must giveand don't feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. 8God can bless you witheverything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.9The Scriptures say,"God freely gives his giftsto the poor,and always does right."10God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that youcan give even more to those in need. 11You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep onbeing generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.12What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It issomething that will make many others thank God. 13The way in which you have proved yourselves by thisservice will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it bysharing generously with God's people and with everyone else. 14Now they are praying for you and want tosee you, because God used you to bless them so very much. 15Thank God for his gift that is too wonderfulfor words!

chapter 10

Paul Defends His Work for Christ1Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen,because Christ himself was humble and gentle. 2Some people have said that we act like the people of thisworld. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't makeme treat you that way. 3We live in this world, but we don't act like its people 4or fight our battles with theweapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5andevery bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obeyChrist. 6And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.7You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again.We belong to Christ as much as you do. 8Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lordgave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag. 9And I am not trying to scareyou with my letters. 10Some of you are saying, "Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is aweakling and has nothing worth saying." 11Those people had better understand that when I am with you, Iwill do exactly what I say in my letters. 12We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much ofthemselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. 13We won't brag about somethingwe don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work that God has sent us to do, and youare part of that work. 14We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message aboutChrist to you.15We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope that asyou become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That hasalways been our goal. 16Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot takecredit for work someone else has already done. 17The Scriptures say, "If you want to brag, then brag aboutthe Lord." 18You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.

chapter 11

Paul and the False Apostles1Please put up with a little of my foolishness. 2I am as concerned about you as God is. You were like a virginbride I had chosen only for Christ. 3But now I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by thatlying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way. 4We told youabout Jesus, and you received the Holy Spirit and accepted our message. But you let some people tell youabout another Jesus. Now you are ready to receive another spirit and accept a different message. 5I think Iam as good as any of those super apostles. 6I may not speak as well as they do, but I know as much. Andthis has already been made perfectly clear to you.7Was it wrong for me to lower myself and honor you by preaching God's message free of charge? 8I robbedother churches by taking money from them to serve you. 9Even when I was in need, I still didn't bother you.In fact, some of the Lord's followers from Macedonia brought me what I needed. I have not been a burden toyou in the past, and I will never be a burden. 10As surely as I speak the truth about Christ, no one in Achaiacan stop me from bragging about this. 11And it isn't because I don't love you. God himself knows how much Ido love you.12I plan to go on doing just what I have always done. Then those people won't be able to brag about doingthe same things we are doing. 13Anyway, they are no more than false apostles and dishonest workers. Theyonly pretend to be apostles of Christ. 14And it is no wonder. Even Satan tries to make himself look like anangel of light. 15So why does it seem strange for Satan's servants to pretend to do what is right? Somedaythey will get exactly what they deserve.Paul's Sufferings for Christ16I don't want any of you to think that I am a fool. But if you do, then let me be a fool and brag a little.17When I do all this bragging, I do it as a fool and not for the Lord. 18Yet if others want to brag about whatthey have done, so will I. 19And since you are so smart, you will gladly put up with a fool. 20In fact, you letpeople make slaves of you and cheat you and steal from you. Why, you even let them strut around and slapyou in the face. 21I am ashamed to say that we are too weak to behave in such a way.If they can brag, so can I, but it is a foolish thing to do. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Jews? So amI. Are they from the family of Abraham? Well, so am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? I am a fool to talk thisway, but I serve him better than they do. I have worked harder and have been put in jail more times. I havebeen beaten with whips more and have been in danger of death more often.24Five times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes with a whip. 25Three times the Romans beat me with a bigstick, and once my enemies stoned me. I have been shipwrecked three times, and I even had to spend anight and a day in the sea. 26During my many travels, I have been in danger from rivers, robbers, my ownpeople, and foreigners. My life has been in danger in cities, in deserts, at sea, and with people who onlypretended to be the Lord's followers.27I have worked and struggled and spent many sleepless nights. I have gone hungry and thirsty and oftenhad nothing to eat. I have been cold from not having enough clothes to keep me warm. 28Besides everythingelse, each day I am burdened down, worrying about all the churches. 29When others are weak, I am weaktoo. When others are tricked into sin, I get angry. 30If I have to brag, I will brag about how weak I am.31God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, knows I am not lying. And God is to be praised forever! 32The governorof Damascus at the time of King Aretas had the city gates guarded, so that he could capture me. 33But Iescaped by being let down in a basket through a window in the city wall.

chapter 12

Visions from the Lord1I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things thatthe Lord has shown me. 2I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heavenfourteen years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows.3As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. 4But he was taken up into paradise,where he heard things that are too wonderful to tell. 5I will brag about that man, but not about myself,except to say how weak I am. 6Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking thetruth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you shouldbecause of what you have seen me do and say. 7Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw.One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud. 8Three times Ibegged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9But he replied, "My kindness is all you need. My power isstrongest when you are weak." So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am.10Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ.Because when I am weak, I am strong.Paul's Concern for the Lord's Followers at Corinth11I have been making a fool of myself. But you forced me to do it, when you should have been speaking upfor me. I may be nothing at all, but I am as good as those super apostles. 12When I was with you, I waspatient and worked all the powerful miracles and signs and wonders of a true apostle. 13You missed out ononly one blessing that the other churches received. That is, you didn't have to support me. Forgive me fordoing you wrong.14I am planning to visit you for the third time. But I still won't make a burden of myself. What I really want isyou, and not what you have. Children are not supposed to save up for their parents, but parents aresupposed to take care of their children. 15So I will gladly give all that I have and all that I am. Will you loveme less for loving you too much? 16You agree that I wasn't a burden to you. Maybe that's because I wastrying to catch you off guard and trick you. 17Were you cheated by any of those I sent to you? 18I urgedTitus to visit you, and I sent another follower with him. But Titus didn't cheat you, and we felt and behavedthe same way he did.19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? Actually, we have beenspeaking to God as followers of Christ. But, my friends, we did it all for your good.20I am afraid that when I come, we won't be pleased with each other. I fear that some of you may bearguing or jealous or angry or selfish or gossiping or insulting each other. I even fear that you may be proudand acting like a mob. 21I am afraid God will make me ashamed when I visit you again. I will feel like cryingbecause many of you have never given up your old sins. You are still doing things that are immoral, indecent,and shameful.

chapter 13

Final Warnings and Greetings1I am on my way to visit you for the third time. And as the Scriptures say, "Any charges must be proved trueby at least two or three witnesses." 2During my second visit I warned you that I would punish you andanyone else who doesn't stop sinning. I am far away from you now, but I give you the same warning. 3Thisshould prove to you that I am speaking for Christ. When he corrects you, he won't be weak. He will bepowerful! 4Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We areweak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does.5Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover thatChrist is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. 6I hope you will discover that we havenot failed. 7We pray that you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good,but to get you to do right, even if we are failures.8All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it. 9Even though we are weak, we are glad thatyou are strong, and we pray that you will do even better. 10I am writing these things to you before I arrive.This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority that the Lord has given me. I was giventhis authority, so that I could help you and not destroy you.11Good-by, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefullywith each other.Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you. 12Give each other a warm greeting. All ofGod's people send their greetings.13I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, andmay the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.