2 Corinthians 13 New English Translation

Paul’s Third Visit to Corinth

13 This is the third time I am coming to visit^[a] you. By the testimony^[b] of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.^[c] ²I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,^[d] ³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He^[e] is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. ⁴For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you. ⁵Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!^[f] ⁶And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!^[g] ⁷Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test,^[h] but so that you may do what is right^[i] even if we may appear to have failed the test.^[j] ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth. ⁹For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.^[k] ¹⁰Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive^[l] I may not have to deal harshly with you^[m] by using my authority—the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

Final Exhortations and Greetings

¹¹Finally, brothers and sisters,^[n] rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹²^[o] Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. ¹³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship^[p] of the Holy Spirit be with you all.^[q]

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 13:1 tn The word “visit” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
2 Corinthians 13:1 tn Grk “By the mouth.”
2 Corinthians 13:1 sn A quotation from Deut 19:15 (also quoted in Matt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19).
2 Corinthians 13:2 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
2 Corinthians 13:3 tn Grk “who.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
2 Corinthians 13:5 tn Or “unless indeed you are disqualified.”
2 Corinthians 13:6 tn Or “that we are not disqualified.”
2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “that we may appear to be approved.”
2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “what is good.”
2 Corinthians 13:7 tn Or “even if we appear disapproved.”
2 Corinthians 13:9 tn Or “fully equipped.”
2 Corinthians 13:10 tn Grk “when I am present,” but in the context of Paul’s third (upcoming) visit to Corinth, this is better translated as “when I arrive.”
2 Corinthians 13:10 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
2 Corinthians 13:11 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
2 Corinthians 13:12 sn The versification of vv. 12 and 13 in the NET (so also NRSV, NLT) is according to the versification in the NA²⁸ and UBS⁵ editions of the Greek text. Some translations, however, break the material up into three verses, i.e., 12-14 (NKJV, NASB, NIV). The same material has been translated in each case; the only difference is the versification of that material.
2 Corinthians 13:13 tn Or “communion.”
2 Corinthians 13:13 tc Most witnesses, especially later ones (א² D Ψ M lat sy bo), conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), while several early and significant mss (P⁴⁶ א* A B F G 0243 6 33 630 1175 1739 1881 sa) lack the particle. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. That so many diverse witnesses lacked the word here is strong testimony to its absence for the original text of 2 Corinthians.

New English Translation (NET)