| Berean Study Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” | 1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence 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, | 2I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them— |
| 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. | 3since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in 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. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you. | 4For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. |
| 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test? | 5Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! |
| 6And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test. | 6I hope you will find out 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. | 7But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. |
| 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. | 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. | 9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. |
| 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. | 10For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing 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. | 11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, 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. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. |
| 13All the saints send you greetings. | 13All the saints greet you. |
| 14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. | 14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
| The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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