2 Corinthians 13

2 Corinthians 13:1

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two &c.

Twice have I been with you already; and now I am, this third time, coming to you: every one of my comings to you are as so many several witnesses against you; now you know it is the word of the Law, that in the mouth of two &c.

2 Corinthians 13:2

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare.

I told you before in my other epistle, and now I foretell you again in this second letter, as if I were present in person with you, my epistle supplying my bodily presence, that I would have it notified to them, which heretofore have scandalously sinned, and to all other guilty persons, that, if I come again, they must expect all due severity from me.

2 Corinthians 13:3

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Since ye are ready to contemn my meekness and patience, and hereupon make question of the power of Christ speaking in me; which of all others ye have least cause to do, having felt in yourselves the happy efficacy of the Spirit of Christ, which hath shewed itself mighty in operation, within you.

2 Corinthians 13:4

For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

For that Saviour of ours, though he was, by his own voluntary dispensation, in the weakness of our human flesh, crucified; yet, in and on the power of his Godhead, he liveth for ever: even so also we, that are his members, and even we his Apostles, are, by unbelieving worldlings, judged weak in and with him; but, we shall live with him gloriously, by that mighty power of God, which he doth and shall make good unto us; the proof whereof, he hath effectually shewed in and to you.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Ye need not, O Corinthians, go further than to your own hearts, for a proof of our apostleship and power: Examine ye yourselves only, whether ye have faith in Christ: prove your own hearts: can ye be such strangers in your own breasts, as not to know that Christ Jesus is in you? Certainly, ye cannot but know that he is in you, except ye be reprobates.

2 Corinthians 13:6

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

So as ye must needs, either acknowledge and reverence our apostleship, or yield yourselves to be reprobates: but I trust ye shall know, and be more and more convinced, that we are the chosen ministers of Christ, and not reprobates.

2 Corinthians 13:7

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

Now I pray God so to keep you upright in his fear, that ye may do no evil; which I do not wish for our own sakes, that we might be hereby approved and graced in the success of our ministry; but chiefly, if not only, for yours, that ye may be preserved in a course of well doing, whatsoever become of us in the opinion of men.

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we cannot exercise the power of our apostleship in punishing or censuring those that live justly, truly, conscionably; but in the countenancing and encouraging of them rather, and opposing the contrary.

2 Corinthians 13:9

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Let my detractors cast upon me the imputation of weakness, because I am not too stirring amongst you: I am glad to be held thus weak, when as my quietness is rather caused through your innocence, than my defect: that which we wish, and are ambitious of, is your perfection, though it be with our own disgrace.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace.

Labour towards perfection of holiness and obedience, &c.