Closing Exhortations

¹This is the third time I am coming to y’all. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[#Deuteronomy 19:15]

²I said previously when I was present the second time, and though now I am absent, I say again to those sinned previously and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,

³since y’all are looking for a proof that Christ speaks in me. He is not weak in dealing with y’all, but is powerful among y’all.

⁴For he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but through the power of God we will live with him in dealing with y’all.

⁵Y’all must examine yourselves to see whether y’all are in the faith. Y’all should test yourselves. Or do y’all not recognize that Jesus Christ is in y’all?—unless indeed y’all fail the test.

⁶But I hope that y’all will recognize that we haven’t failed the test.

⁷Now I pray to God that y’all wouldn’t do anything worthless—not so that we will appear to have passed the test, but that y’all may do what is excellent, even if we appear to fail the test.

⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

⁹For we rejoice when we are weak and y’all are strong. We also pray for this: that y’all would be made complete.

¹⁰This is the reason I am writing these things while absent: so that I won’t have to be severe when present, according to the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Greetings, Kisses, and Triune Presence

¹¹Finally, siblings, rejoice y’all! May y’all be perfected, be comforted, be of one mind, and live at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with y’all.

¹²Y’all should greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³All the saints greet y’all.

¹⁴The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all y’all.