2 Corinthians 13:4-8
J.B. Phillips New Testament
2-4 My previous warning, given on my second visit, still stands and, though absent, I repeat it now as though I were present—my coming will not mean leniency for those who had sinned before that visit and those who have sinned since. It will in fact be a proof that I speak by the power of Christ. The Christ you have to deal with is not a weak person outside you, but a tremendous power inside you. He was “weak” enough to be crucified, yes, but he lives now by the power of God. I am weak as he was weak, but I am strong enough to deal with you for I share his life by the power of God.
Why not test yourselves instead of me?
5-8 You should be looking at yourselves to make sure that you are really Christ’s. It is yourselves that you should be testing, not me. You ought to know by this time that Christ is in you, unless you are not real Christians at all. And when you have applied your test, I am confident that you will soon find that I myself am a genuine Christian. I pray God that you may find the right answer to your test, not because I have any need of your approval, but because I earnestly want you to find the right answer, even if that should make me no real Christian. For, after all, we can make no progress against the truth; we can only work for the truth.
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2 Corinthians 13:4-6
New International Version
4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,(A) yet he lives by God’s power.(B) Likewise, we are weak(C) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him(D) in our dealing with you.
5 Examine yourselves(E) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.(F) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you(G)—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
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