2 Corinthians — Chapter 13
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1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
2I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.
4For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?
6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.
7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints send you greetings.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
1This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word established.
2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
3seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:
4for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.
5Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.
6But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate.
7Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.
11Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12Salute one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints salute you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
1This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.
2I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,
3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.
4For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.
5Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!
6And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!
7Now we pray to God that you may 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 if we may appear to have failed the test.
8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.
9For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.
10Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!
11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
14[This verse is not included in the NET; see KJV/ASV for the traditional rendering.]
1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
3seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you.
4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
5Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
6But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.
8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
Summary
Paul announces this will be his third visit, warning that on the testimony of multiple witnesses he will no longer spare those who remain unrepentant (vv. 1-2). Since the Corinthians want proof that Christ speaks through him, he reminds them that Christ, though crucified in weakness, lives by God's power, and Paul's own weakness likewise carries God's power toward them (vv. 3-4). He urges them to examine themselves to see whether they are truly in the faith, confident Christ is in them unless they fail the test (vv. 5-6). Paul prays they will do what is right regardless of his own reputation, since he can do nothing against the truth, only for it, and he would rather appear weak while they are strong and mature (vv. 7-9). He writes this in advance so his presence will not require severity, since his authority is for building up, not tearing down (v. 10). The letter closes with exhortations to unity, peace, and mutual greeting, ending in a Trinitarian benediction invoking the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (vv. 11-14).
Authorship & Background
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the warning, self-examination, the prayer for perfection, and the Trinitarian benediction.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 2 Corinthians -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Examining Your Own Faith, Not Others' (v.5) — Paul urges the Corinthians to test whether they themselves are in the faith rather than scrutinizing his credentials. When did you last honestly examine the evidence of genuine faith in your own life instead of coasting on past decisions?
- Truth Cannot Ultimately Be Defeated (v.8) — Paul says he and his companions can do nothing against the truth, only for it. Are you living on the side of truth, or are there areas where you're quietly resisting it?
- Final Commands Toward Unity and Peace (v.11) — Paul closes with calls toward wholeness, encouragement, unity, and peace among believers. Where is there disunity or conflict in your relationships right now that needs to be addressed?
- A Blessing From All Three Persons of God (v.14) — Paul's closing benediction calls down Christ's grace, the Father's love, and the Spirit's fellowship together. Which of these three do you most need to experience today?