^aThis is the third time that I am visiting you. ^bEVERY FACT SHALL BE SUSTAINED and CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. Deut 19:15 2 I have already warned those who have ^asinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent from you as I did when I was with you the second time, that ^bif I come back I will not ^cspare anyone, 3 since you ^aseek forensic proof that ^bChrist is speaking in and through me. He is not weak or ineffective in dealing with you, but ^cpowerful within you. 4 For even though He was ^acrucified in weakness yielding Himself, yet He lives resurrected ^bby the power of God His Father. For we too are ^cweak in Him as He was humanly weak, yet we are ^dalive and well in fellowship with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

5 ^aTest and evaluate yourselves to see whether you are in the faith and living your lives as committed believers. ^bExamine yourselves not me! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves by an ongoing experience that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^cfail the test and are rejected as counterfeit? 6 But I hope you will acknowledge that we do not fail the test nor are we to be rejected. 7 But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong. Not so that we and our teaching may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing what is right, even though we by comparison may seem to have failed. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth and the gospel—the good news of salvation. 9 We are glad when we are ^aweak since God’s power comes freely through us, but you by comparison are strong. We also pray for this, that you be ^bmade complete fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit—pleasing your heavenly Father by the life you live. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent from you, so that when I come, ^aI will not need to deal ^bseverely with you, in my use of the ^cauthority which the Lord has given me to be used for building you up and not for tearing you down.

11 ^aFinally, believers, rejoice! ^bBe made complete be what you should be, be comforted, ^cbe like-minded, ^dlive in peace enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God; and ^ethe God of love and peace the source of lovingkindness will be with you. 12 ^aGreet one another with a ¹holy kiss. 13 ^aAll ¹God’s people greet you.

14 ^aThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the ^blove of God, and the ^cfellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.