1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 I 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, 3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For 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. 5 Examine 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? 6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test. 7 Now 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. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection. 10 This 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. 11 Finally, 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. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints send you greetings. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
2 Corinthians · Berean Standard Bible
2 Corinthians 13 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (14)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 18:16; Deuteronomy 19:15; Deuteronomy 17:6; John 8:17–18; Numbers 35:30
- 2 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2 Corinthians 10:8–11; 2 Corinthians 10:1–2; 2 Corinthians 12:20–21; 1 Corinthians 5:5
- 3 Matthew 10:20; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Luke 21:15; 2 Corinthians 10:8–10; 1 Corinthians 9:1–3
- 4 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 10:3–4; Romans 6:8–11; 2 Timothy 2:11–12
- 5 Lamentations 3:40; 1 Corinthians 11:28; Psalm 139:23–24; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Revelation 2:5
- 6 2 Corinthians 12:20; 2 Corinthians 13:3–4; 2 Corinthians 13:10
- 7 James 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 2:2; 2 Timothy 4:18; Philippians 4:8
- 8 Proverbs 21:30; Mark 9:39; Acts 4:28–30; Hebrews 2:3–4; Numbers 16:28–35
- 9 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Corinthians 12:5–10
- 10 2 Corinthians 10:8; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Titus 1:13; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 10:2
- 11 Hebrews 12:14; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 15:33; Romans 12:18
- 12 Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:26; 1 Corinthians 16:20
- 13 Philippians 4:21–22; Philemon 23–24; Romans 16:16; 2 John 13; 3 John 14
- 14 Ephesians 2:22; Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 16:23; Romans 16:20; Jude 21
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The wisdom of Paul and his much tender affection, one may observe in many other circumstances, but especially in this, his being so abundant and vehement in his admonitions, but so tardy and procrastinating in his punishments.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
… say, from the race of Israel, He has assumed flesh and blood that He might suffer; "and he was drunken," that is, He suffered; "and was naked," that is, His weakness appeared in His suffering, as the apostle says, "though He was crucified through weakness." Wherefore the same apostle says, "The weakness of God is stronger than men; and the …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Paul says to his hearers, Or seek ye a proof of Christ that speaketh in me?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
So Paul speaks in Christ, saying "In the sight of God we speak in Christ," and Christ in Paul, as he himself says "Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me." So also in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries, and again the Spirit speaks in him.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
For He did not speak in contradiction to His Apostle, seeing that He Himself spoke "in" him also, as he says, "Would ye receive a proof of Christ, who speaketh in me?" Christ in the Gospel, Christ in the Apostle: Christ therefore spake both; one by His own Mouth, the other by the mouth of His herald.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)