Второе Послание к Коринфянам св. Апостола Павла

1) Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy brother, of the church of God, which is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia. 2) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we ourselves may be able to comfort those who are in any distress through exhortation, by which we ourselves are admonished from God! 5) Because [as] the passions of Christ increase in us, so does our consolation increase through Christ. 6) Are we afflicted, [we are afflicted] for your admonition and salvation, are we consoled, [we are consoled] for your consolation, are we admonished, [we are exhorted] for the sake of your admonition and salvation, which is accomplished by enduring the same sufferings that we suffer; 7) may our hope for you be strong; knowing that just as you are sharers in our suffering, so you will also be in consolation. 8) For we do not want to leave you, brethren, ignorant of our sorrow that happened to us in Asia, because we were burdened excessively and beyond our strength, so that it became disgusting for us to live. 9) But in ourselves we had the answer of death, so that we would not trust in the dead, but in God, who raises the dead, 10) Who delivered us from such dangers and is delivering, in whom we hope that He will also deliver, 11) with your help in prayer for us, so that for what was given to us, through many persons, through many [the same] they would give thanks for us. 12) For this is our praise: a testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity of heart and Divine sincerity, and not by carnal wisdom, but by the grace of God, we were converted in this world, especially among you. 13) For we write to you nothing other than what you have read and understood. I hope that you will even fully understand, 14) just as you have come to know us in part, that we will be your praise, just as you are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15) And in this confidence I intended to come to you earlier, so that you would have the second grace, 16) and through you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you; and you would lead me to Judea. 17) When I desired this, did I not act frivolously? Or, what I plan, I plan according to the flesh, so that I have a “yes” and then a “no”? 18) God is faithful. For our word, which came to you, is not in it [such] - sometimes “yes”, sometimes “no.” 19) For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us: by me and by Silvanus and by Timothy, was not “yes” and “no”; but in Him was “yes,” - 20) for all the promises of God in Him are “yes”; therefore through Him “Amen” to God, to our glorification. 21) It is God who confirms you and me in Christ and anointed us, 22) who sealed us and gave the pledge of the Spirit into our hearts. 23) I call God as a witness on my soul, that, sparing you, I no longer came to Corinth, 24) not because we are establishing dominion over your faith; but we are companions of your joy: for you are steadfast in the faith. 1) I have decided this very thing for myself: let me not come to you again in sorrow. 2) For if I make you sad, who will make me happy if not the one who makes me sad? 3) And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I come, I would not have grief upon grief [from those] about whom I should rejoice: for I am confident in all of you that my joy is also [joy] for all of you. 4) For out of great sorrow and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not so that you would be upset, but so that you would know what abundant love I have for you. 5) If anyone upset, he did not upset me, but in part, so that I would not burden you all. 6) Sufficient for him who is such is this reward, which will be from many; 7) so, on the contrary, it is better for you to forgive him and console him, so long as he is not consumed by the most abundant sorrow, the one who is like that. 8) For this reason, I beg you to establish love in him. 9) For this is why I wrote, to learn about you from experience, whether you are obedient in everything. 10) And whomever you forgive for anything, [that] I too; for I too have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven for your sake, on behalf of Christ, 11) so that we would not be deceived by Satan, for we are not unaware of his devices. 12) When I came to Troas for the sake of the Gospel of Christ, and the door was opened before me in the Lord, 13) I had no rest for my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but, having said goodbye to them, he proceeded to Macedonia. 14) But thanks be to God, who always leads us to triumph in Christ Jesus and reveals through us the fragrance of the knowledge of Himself in every place. 15) For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: 16) For some there is a savor of death unto death, and for others a savor of life unto life. And who is so capable of this? 17) For we are not like many who adulterously corrupt the word of God, but sincerely, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak. 1) Are we starting to recommend ourselves again? Or do we, like some, need letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2) You are our letter, written in our hearts, recognizable and read by all people; 3) you show that you are the message of Christ, served by us and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh of the heart. 4) We have such confidence through Christ to God, 5) not because we ourselves are sufficiently capable of thinking anything from ourselves, as if from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. 6) He also made us capable of being ministers of the New Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7) If the ministry of death, depicted in letters on the stones, was in glory, so that the children of Israel could not look at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face that was passing away, - 8) how could it not be, much more, the ministry of the Spirit in glory? 9) For if the ministry of condemnation is glorious, how much more abounds in glory the ministry of righteousness. 10) For even that which was glorious in this respect was not glorified for the sake of a superior glory. 11) For if that which is desolate is glorious, much more is that which remains glorious. 12) Therefore, having such hope, we have great confidence, 13) and not like Moses, who put a veil over his face, so that the children of Israel would not look on his face, which was subject to desolation. 14) But their perception has become dull. For, even to this day, the same veil remains untaken when the Old Testament is read (because it is abolished in Christ). 15) But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil is laid over their heart. 16) When he turned to the Lord, the veil was removed. 17) The Lord is Spirit; Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18) But we all, with open face looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from clarity to clarity, as by the Spirit of the Lord. 1) Therefore, having a ministry from which we have been granted mercy, we are not lost; 2) but we renounce hidden shameful [deeds], not bypassing with cunning and not adulterously distorting the word of God, but by revealing the truth, presenting ourselves to every human conscience before God. 3) For even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4) to those who do not believe, whose minds the “god” of this age has blinded, so that the illumination of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should not shine to them. 5) For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; but we are your servants for Jesus' sake, 6) because God, who spoke that light should shine out of darkness, has Himself shone in our hearts to enlighten us with the knowledge of the clarity of God in the face of Christ Jesus. 7) We have this treasure in frail vessels (clay), so that the excellence comes from the power of God, and not from us. 8) We suffer tribulation in everything, but are not oppressed; we are at a loss, but we are not deceived; 9) we suffer persecution, but are not abandoned; we are overthrown, but we do not perish. 10) We always carry the death of Jesus around our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies. 11) For we who are alive are always given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12) So death works in us, and life in you. 13) But having the same Spirit of faith, as it is written: “I believed, therefore I spoke” (Ps. 116:1), and we believe, therefore we speak, 14) knowing that He who raised Jesus will raise us up with Jesus and place us with you. 15) For all things are for you, that abundant grace may abound through many in thanksgiving to the glory of God. 16) For this reason we do not lose heart; but if our outer man is decaying, then the inner man is renewed day by day. 17) For the fact that in the present there is a short-term and light sorrow for us, in immeasurable abundance produces in us the importance of eternal glory, 18) not when we contemplate the visible, but the invisible. For what is visible is temporary, but what is invisible is eternal. 1) For we know that when our earthly house of residence is destroyed, that we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven. 2) That is why we sigh for this, ardently desiring to be clothed from above in our heavenly dwelling; 3) if only we, even dressed, would not be found naked. 4) For we who are in this tabernacle groan under the burden, because we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, so that mortal things may be swallowed up with life. 5) For God created us for this very purpose, giving us the pledge of the Spirit. 6) So, we always dare; Knowing that while we are in the body, we are removed from the Lord 7) (for we walk by faith and not by sight), 8) but we are bold and have a good will: it is better to leave the body and stand before the Lord. 9) And therefore we zealously strive, whether present or absent, to please Him. 10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what belongs to the body for what he has done, whether good or bad. 11) Knowing the fear of the Lord, we convince people, but we are obvious to God. I hope that we are also clear in your consciences. 12) We do not recommend us to you again, but we give you a reason to boast about us, so that you may have something to say to those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13) For whether we proceed from ourselves to God; are we sober, for you. 14) For the love of Christ compels us who hold this: for if one died for all, then all died. 15) But Christ died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16) So from now on we know no one according to the flesh. And even if we knew Christ in the flesh, now we no longer know him. 17) If anyone is a new creation in Christ, [then] the old things have passed away; behold, everything is new now. 18) And all is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19) because God in Christ was the one who reconciled the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and He placed in us the word of reconciliation. 20) So, we, replacing Christ, carry out the mission; as if God Himself exhorts through us. We ask, in the place of Christ: “Be reconciled to God.” 21) He made him who knew no sin to be “sin” for our sake, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Himself. 1) While helping, we beg you not to take God’s grace in vain. 2) For He says: “In an acceptable time I heard you and on the day of salvation I helped you” (Is. 49:8). Now, now is the opportune time! Behold, now is the day of salvation! 3) We do not offend anyone in any way, so that our service is not reproached, 4) but in everything we present ourselves as servants of God, in great patience, in adversity, in need, in difficult circumstances, 5) under blows, in prisons, among riots, in labor, in vigils, in fasting, 6) in purity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7) in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapon of righteousness in the right and left hand, 8) in glory and disgrace, with reproach and good rumor: we are like “deceivers”, but faithful; as if unknown, but recognizable; 9) as if we were dead, but, behold, we are alive; as if punished, but we are not killed; 10) as if mournful, but always joyful; like beggars, yet enriching many; as if they had nothing and possessed everything. 11) Our lips are open to you, O Corinthians, our hearts are enlarged. 12) You are not cramped in us; it is cramped in your wombs. 13) Having equal reward, I say, as to children, you too will spread. 14) Do not be yoked with infidels. For what has righteousness to do with iniquity? Or what is the community between light and darkness? 15) What is the agreement between Christ and Belial? Or what is the part of right with wrong? 16) What is the agreement of the church of God with idols? For you are the church of the living God, as God said: “For I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 17) For this reason, come out from among them and separate yourself, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean. 18) And I will receive you, and I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (Lev. 26:12; Isa. 52:11; Jer. 3:19; Hos. 1:10). 1) Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God. 2) Accept us. We did not offend anyone, we did not harm anyone, we did not deceive anyone. 3) I am not telling you as a condemnation; for I said before that you are in our hearts, so that we may die and live together. 4) My trust in you is great, my praise for you is great; I am filled with consolation, abounding in joy in all our sorrow. 5) But when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no peace, but we endured all sorts of sorrows: from without - wars, from within - fears. 6) But God, who comforts the humble, comforted us with the arrival of Titus. 7) Not only by his arrival, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, telling us about your desire, about your crying, about your jealousy for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8) Therefore, if I saddened you with the message, I am not sorry, although I was sorry, seeing that the message (even if only temporarily) saddened you. 9) Now I rejoice, not because you were sad, but because you were saddened to repentance. For they grieved for God’s sake, so that they suffered no harm from us. 10) For sorrow for God produces steadfast repentance leading to salvation. Worldly sorrow produces death. 11) For, behold, the very thing that made you sad for God is what care has produced in you! And what protection [of oneself], and what indignation [at the guilty party], and what fear, and what desire, and what jealousy, and what retribution! In everything you have shown yourself to be unblemished in this matter. 12) So, if I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who caused the insult and not for the sake of the one who suffered, but so that our care that we have for you 13) before God would be revealed to you, therefore we are comforted. In our consolation, we were even more delighted about the joy of Titus, for his spirit was calmed by all of you. 14) And if I boasted of anything about you before him, I did not remain in shame, but just as we told you everything in truth, so our praise before Titus turned out to be true; 15) and his womb is more and more abundantly disposed towards you, in remembrance of the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16) I am glad that I rely on you in everything. 1) We inform you, brethren, of the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2) that in the great trial of tribulations there was great abundance of joy for them; and their deep poverty abounds in the richness of their simplicity. 3) For they were in strength (I give testimony of them) and beyond their strength they were willing: 4) they very earnestly asked us for the gift [gratiam] and participation [their] in the service of the saints; 5) and not [only] what we hoped for, but they gave themselves, firstly, to the Lord, then to us, according to the will of God; 6) so we asked Titus that, just as he began, he would also complete this good work [gratiam] with you. 7) And as you abound in everything: in faith, and in word, and in knowledge, and in all zeal, and above all in your love for us, so abound in this virtue [gratia]. 8) I say this not as a commanding one, but through the zeal of others I also test the abilities of your love. 9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake He became poor, although He was rich, so that through His poverty you might become rich. 10) And I give advice on this: for it is useful for you, who not only began to do it, but also to want it since the past year. 11) Now complete the accomplishment itself, so that, just as the desire was manifest, it will be fulfilled from what you have. 12) For if there is a zealous desire, it is accepted according to who has what, and not according to what he does not have. 13) For it is not that there will be remission for one and tribulation for you, but according to equal justice. 14) At present, your excess makes up for their deficiency; so that their abundance will be to fill your lack, so that there will be evenness, as it is written: 15) “He who [gathered] much did not abound; and he who has little has not humbled” (Ex. 16:18). 16) Thanks be to God, who has put such zeal for you in Tito’s heart. 17) Because, although he also accepted the admonition; but he, because he was very diligent, went to you of his own free will. 18) We also sent with him a brother who is praised in all the churches for his gospel, 19) and not only that, but also appointed by the churches to accompany us for this good work [gratiam], which we serve for the glory of the Lord and according to our determined will, 20) being careful lest we should be reproached by anyone with such fullness [of the offerings] that are entrusted to our service. 21) For we provide for what is good not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men (see Proverbs 3:4 LXX). 22) We also sent with them our brother, whom we tested in many things, that he was diligent; now I am even more diligent, out of great confidence in you. 23) Are we talking about Titus, who is my friend and helper with you; whether we are talking about our brothers, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24) So, show before the churches clear evidence of your love and our praise for you. 1) For it is unnecessary for me to write to you about serving the saints. 2) For I know your zealous soul, in connection with which I boast about you before the Macedonians. Because Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your jealousy has prompted many. 3) I sent my brothers so that my praise of you would not be in vain on this side, but so that you, as I said, would be prepared, 4) and so that when the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we would not blush (let us not say “you”) for the sake of this subject. 5) Therefore, I considered it necessary to ask the brothers to go to you in advance and prepare this already promised blessing so that it would be ready precisely as a blessing, and not as [an exaction from someone’s] greed. 6) This I will say: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and whoever sows in blessings will also reap in blessings. 7) Everyone, as he has disposed in his heart, [give] not with grief or compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver (see Proverbs 22:8 LXX). 8) God is able to make all grace abundant in you, so that you, always having every sufficiency in everything, may abound for every good work, 9) as it is written: “He was wasted, he distributed to the poor; his righteousness endures forever and ever” (Ps. 112:9). 10) He who supplies seed to the sower will give bread to the eater, and abundance to what you sow, and will multiply the harvest of the fruits of your righteousness, 11) so that you, being enriched in everything, may abound in all simplicity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God. 12) For the work of this ministry not only supplies what is lacking to the saints, but also abundantly produces thanksgiving to God through many; 13) through the testing of this ministry, glorifying God for the obedience of your confession in relation to the Gospel of Christ, and for simple communication with them and with everyone, 14) and in their prayer for you, according to their willing disposition towards you, for the grace of God abounding in you. 15) Thanks be to God for His ineffable gift! 1) I, Paul, beg you with the meekness and modesty of Christ, I, who, although personally humble among you, am bold towards you when I am absent. 2) I beg you, that I, being present, should not be bold with such courage as I think I might be bold with some who think of us that we walk according to the flesh. 3) For we, although we walk in the flesh, do not fight according to the flesh. 4) For the weapons of our army are not carnal, but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds: destroying councils / overthrowing plans / 5) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing all understanding into full obedience to Christ, 6) and we are ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 7) Look at what matches the appearance! If anyone believes in himself that he is Christ’s, judge for himself, for just as he is Christ’s, so are we. 8) For even if I began to boast a little more about our power, which the Lord gave us for creation, and not for your disorder, I would not blush. 9) However, let it not seem that I am intimidating you [only] with messages. 10) Because some say: “Although in epistles he is important and strong, in personal presence he is weak in body, and his word is despised,” 11) let such a one know that, as we are in words in epistles when we are absent, so we are in deed when we are present. 12) For we dare not compare or compare ourselves with someone who puts themselves forward; but we measure ourselves by ourselves and compare ourselves with ourselves. 13) We will not boast without measure, but according to the measure of the rule that God has measured out for us, in such measure as to reach you. 14) For we do not stretch ourselves beyond our measure, as if we could not reach you, for we have also reached you with the gospel of Christ. 15) We do not boast without measure of the labors of others, but we have hope, as your faith grows, to be magnified among you according to our rule, to abundance, 16) so that in those places that are further than you are, we can preach the gospel, and not boast about what is already ready according to someone else’s rule. 17) Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. 18) For he is not tested who exhibits himself, but whom God represents. 1) Oh, if only you were somewhat lenient towards my folly! But you also condescend to me. 2) For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you to Christ as a pure virgin. 3) I am afraid that, just as the serpent deceived Eve with his cunning, so your feelings may be damaged and deviate from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4) For if someone comes and preaches another Christ, whom we did not preach, or if you receive another spirit, which you did not receive, or another Gospel, which you did not accept, you tolerate it well. 5) For I think that I have done no less than the great Apostles. 6) Although I am unskilled in speech, I am not skilled in knowledge; however, we are known to you in everything. 7) Have I committed a sin by humiliating myself in order to exalt you? Because I preached the Gospel of God to you freely? 8) I robbed other churches, receiving payment to serve you; 9) And when I was with you and suffered from lack, I was not a burden to anyone, for what I was lacking was supplied by the brethren who came from Macedonia; Yes, and in everything I tried and will try not to be a burden to you. 10) And the truth of Christ is within me, that this praise will not be broken from me in the countries of Achaia. 11) Why? [Is it] because I don’t love you? God knows! 12) And as I do, so I will do, so as not to give an opportunity to those who seek an opportunity, so that in what they boast, they may be found to be [the same] as we are. 13) For such false apostles are crafty workers, transforming themselves into “apostles of Christ.” 14) And it’s no wonder: because Satan himself transforms himself into an “Angel of Light.” 15) Therefore it is not a great thing if his servants are transformed, looking like ministers of righteousness; their end will be according to their works. 16) I will also say (not that almost anyone considers me unreasonable; otherwise, accept me, although as unreasonable, so that I too can boast a little), 17) What I say, I will not say according to God, but as if in foolishness, given such a reason for praise. 18) For many boast according to the flesh, and I will boast. 19) For you willingly tolerate the foolish, when you yourself are “wise men.” 20) For you endure it if anyone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone robs you, if anyone is arrogant, if someone slaps you in the face. 21) I am ashamed to say that we were kind of weak in this regard. Whatever anyone dares [to boast about] (I will say foolishly), I dare too. 22) They are Jews, and so am I. Israelis and me. Abraham's seed and I. 23) Christ's servants... (as a less wise one says): I am even greater. I was much more in labor, more in prison, immensely wounded, often near death. 24) From the Jews five times I received forty [strikes] minus one. 25) Three times I was beaten with sticks, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea; 26) I was on many journeys, in dangers on rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my fellow tribesmen, in dangers from pagans, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the desert, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brothers, 27) in labor and in exhaustion, in many vigils, in hunger and thirst, in many fasts, in cold and nakedness. 28) Besides extraneous [adventures], I have a daily gathering [of people], taking care of all the churches. 29) Who is faint, but I would not be faint? Who is tempted, but I would not be inflamed? 30) If I must boast, in what I am weak in, I will boast. 31) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, blessed forever, knows that I do not lie. 32) In Damascus, the people's ruler, King Aretas, guarded the city of Damascus to capture me; 33) and I was lowered down the wall from the window in a basket, and thus escaped his hands. 1) If I must boast (even though it does not serve the good), I will move on to the visions and revelations of the Lord. 2) I know a man in Christ who, before fourteen years ago (whether in the body - I don’t know, or outside the body - I don’t know: God knows), such a [man] was caught up even to the third heaven. 3) And I know about such a person (I don’t know - in the body or outside the body: God knows), 4) that he was caught up into paradise and heard secret words that a person cannot say. 5) I will boast of such a [person]; I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses. 6) After all, even if I want to boast, I will not be mad, for I will tell the truth; I restrain myself so that no one thinks more about me than what he sees in me or hears something from me. 7) And so that I would not be exalted by the extraordinaryness of revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, an angel of Satan, who pricks me. 8) For this reason, I prayed to the Lord three times so that [he] would retreat from me. 9) And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for [My] power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10) For this reason I am content in my weaknesses, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in oppressions for Christ’s sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong. 11) I have become unreasonable; you forced me. After all, I should have been glorified by you, for I am no less than those who are excessively “apostles,” although I am nothing. 12) The signs of my apostleship were manifested in practice before you in all patience, signs and wonders, and powers. 13) For what do you lack in comparison to the other churches, except that I myself have not been a burden to you? Forgive me for such an insult. 14) Behold, for the third time I am ready to go to you, and I will not burden you. For I seek not yours, but you. For it is not children who should save for their parents, but parents for their children. 15) I will spend gladly and will spend myself most of all for your souls. Although I love you especially, I am less loved. 16) But let it be this: I did not burden you, but, being cunning, I captured you with guile. 17) Did I lead you through any of those whom I sent to you? 18) I begged Titus and sent one of the brothers with him. Did Titus trick you? Didn't we walk in the same spirit? Not in the same footsteps? 19) You have long thought that we are seeking our apologies to you. We speak before God in Christ, yet [this], beloved, is for your edification. 20) For I am afraid, lest, when I come, I find you not as I want, and I would not be found by you not as you want; as long as there is no strife, envy, stubbornness, disagreement, slander, whispering, pompousness, disorder among you, 21) so that again, when I come, God will not humble me before you, and so that I will not mourn for many who have sinned before and did not repent of the uncleanness, and fornication, and lewdness that they committed. 1) Behold, this is the third time I’m coming to you. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established” (Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6, 19:15). 2) I warned and am warning when I was present, and now, when I am absent, to those who sinned before and to everyone else, that if I come again, I will not spare. 3) Are you not looking for experimental confirmation [experimentum] for Christ speaking in me, who is not powerless in you, but strong in you? 4) For, although He was crucified from weakness, He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him through the power of God in you. 5) Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourself. Or do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you are the outcast. 6) I hope that you will find out that we are not rejected. 7) We pray to God that you do no evil, not so that we may appear to be tested; but that you do what is good; we will be like outcasts. 8) For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9) For we rejoice when we are weak, but you are strong. This is what we pray for, for your perfection. 10) For this reason I am writing this in absence, so that in my presence I would not act harshly according to the power given to me by the Lord for creation, and not for destruction. 11) For the rest, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be of good cheer, be wise in the same way, have peace, and the God of peace and love will be with you. 12) Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13) May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.