Final Warnings and Self-Examination
Study note
Paul warns that he will deal firmly with sin when he arrives, establishing his authority on the principle of multiple witnesses. He challenges the Corinthians to examine themselves rather than testing him, pointing out that Christ living in them is the proof of genuine faith. His prayer is for their restoration and maturity, and he reminds them that his authority exists to build up the church, not to tear it down.
1 This will be my third time coming to see you. Remember: "Every accusation must be backed up by two or three witnesses." This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I already gave a warning to those who sinned earlier, and I am warning everyone else too. I said it when I visited the second time, and I am saying it again now while I am away: when I come back, I will not hold back. I 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:
3 You keep asking for proof that Christ truly speaks through me. Well, Christ is not weak when he deals with you -- he is powerful among you. Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 Yes, Christ was nailed to the cross in weakness, but now he lives by God's power. We share in his weakness, but through God's power we will live with him as we serve you. For 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.
5 Take a good, hard look at yourselves and test whether your faith is real. Do you not recognize that Jesus Christ lives inside you? If you cannot see that, then you have failed the test. Examine 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?
6 I am confident you will realize that we have not failed. But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. We do not care about making ourselves look like we passed a test. We want you to do the right thing, even if it makes us look like we failed. Now 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.
8 We are unable to work against the truth. We can only work for it. For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 In fact, we are happy when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for above everything is that you will become fully mature. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 Therefore I am writing all this while I am still away. When I arrive, I do not want to have to use the authority the Lord gave me in a harsh way. He gave me that authority to build you up, not to knock you down. Therefore 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.
Final Greetings and the Trinitarian Blessing
Study note
Paul's farewell exhortations call the church to pursue maturity, encouragement, unity, and peace. His closing benediction is one of the most explicitly Trinitarian statements in the New Testament, invoking the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. This blessing has become one of the most widely used benedictions in Christian worship throughout history.
11 One last thing, brothers and sisters: goodbye! Work toward becoming mature. Be encouraged. Agree with each other. Live in peace. And the God who is full of love and peace will be there with you. Finally, 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.
12 Greet each other warmly with a holy kiss. Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All of God's people here send their greetings to you. All the saints salute you.
14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the closeness of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Amen. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.