| Christian Standard Bible | New International 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 will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." |
| 2I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, | 2I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, |
| 3since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. | 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 crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God's power. | 4For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with you. |
| 5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless you fail the test. | 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? |
| 6And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. | 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. |
| 7But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong--not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. | 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong--not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. |
| 8For we can't do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. | 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. |
| 9We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. | 9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. |
| 10This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. | 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. |
| 11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. | 11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, 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. All the saints send you greetings. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. |
| 13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | 13All God's people here send their greetings. |
| 14 | 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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