1 This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses, and of three, shall every word be established.
2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as if present at the second time, and, being now absent, I write to those who heretofore have sinned, and to all the rest; that, if I come again, I will not spare;
3 since ye seek a proof of Christ's speaking in me, Who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you;
4 for, indeed, He was crucified through weakness, but 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.
5 Try yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove yourselves. Or know ye not as to yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless ye be rejected?
6 But I hope that ye shall know, that we are not rejected.
7 Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is honorable, though we be rejected.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong; this also we pray for??our perfection.
10 For 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 casting down.