^aThis is the third time that I am coming to you. ^bON THE ¹TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY MATTER SHALL BE CONFIRMED. 2 I have previously said when I was present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have ^asinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^bif I come again I will not ^cspare anyone, 3 since you are ^aseeking proof of the ^bChrist who speaks in me, who is not weak toward you, but ^cmighty in you. 4 For indeed He was ^acrucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^bbecause of the power of God. For we too are ^cweak ¹in Him, yet ^dwe will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

5 ^aTest yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^bexamine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^1cfail the test? 6 But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves ¹do not fail the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may ¹appear unapproved. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^aweak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, ¹that you ^bbecome mature. 10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^aI need not use ^bseverity, in accordance with the ^cauthority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

11 ^aFinally, brothers and sisters, ¹rejoice, ^bmend your ways, be comforted, ^cbe like-minded, ^dlive in peace; and ^ethe God of love and peace will be with you. 12 ^aGreet one another with a holy kiss. 13 ^aAll the ¹saints 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.