1 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 said before, and now say beforehand, as when present the second time, so also absent now, to those who have sinned before, and to all the others, that if I come again, I will not spare;
3 since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty among you.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live together with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Try yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless ye are unapproved?
6 But I trust that ye shall know, that we are not unapproved.
7 Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not in order that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is good, though we be as unapproved.
8 For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong; this also we pray for, even your perfection.
10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that when present I may not use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord gave me for edification, and not for destruction.