1 ^12:19Do you again think that we are defending ourselves? We speak in Christ before God; all these things, beloved, are for your edification. ^12:20For I fear lest when I come I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found such as you wish not; lest there shall be strife, envy, anger, contentions, evil speakings, whisperings, pride, dissensions; ^12:21lest when I come again my God shall humble me before you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned, and not changed their minds, in respect to impurity and fornication and lewdness which they have committed.

2 ^13:1This third time I am coming to you; by the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. ^13:2I have said before, and I now foretell as if present a second time, although absent, to those who have already sinned and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare; ^13:3since you seek a proof in me of Christ speaking, who is not weak to you but powerful in you; ^13:4for though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; and we also are weak in him, but live with him by the power of God in you.

3 ^13:5Try yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves; or know you not yourselves that Christ is in you unless you are reprobates? ^13:6But I hope you will know that we are not reprobates. ^13:7We wish to God that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do good though we should be as reprobates. ^13:8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ^13:9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong; and we desire this, your perfection. ^13:10For this reason, being absent, I write these things, that I may not use sharpness when present, with the power which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.

4 ^13:11Finally, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you. ^13:12Salute one another with a holy kiss. ^13:13All the saints salute you. ^13:14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.