1 Jau trešo reizi es nāku pie jums. Katra lieta pamatojas uz liecību no divu vai triju liecinieku mutes. 2 To es jau esmu teicis un saku arī tagad, kā otrreiz pie jums būdams, tā tagad no tālienes, visiem, kas jau grēkojuši, un visiem pārējiem, ka es nesaudzēšu nevienu, ja atkal nākšu pie jums. 3 Jūs vēlaties pierādījumu, ka Kristus manī runā; Viņš nav nespēcīgs, bet spēcīgs jūsu vidū. 4 Jo jebšu Viņš krustā sists nespēkā, bet Viņš ir dzīvs Dieva spēkā; tāpat arī mēs esam nespēcīgi, bet ar Viņu dzīvosim Dieva spēkā jūsu vidū. 5 Pārbaudait paši sevi, vai stāvat ticībā, izmeklējiet paši sevi. Jeb vai neesat pārliecināti, ka Jēzus Kristus ir jūsos? Citādi jūs esat nederīgi. 6 Bet es ceru, jūs atzīsit, ka mēs neesam nederīgi. 7 Mēs lūdzam Dievu, ka jūs nedarāt nekā ļauna, mēs netiecamies pēc tā, lai mūs uzskata par derīgiem, bet lai jūs būtu laba darītāji, un mēs paliktu it kā nederīgi. 8 Jo mēs nekā nespējam pret patiesību, bet tikai par patiesību. 9 Mēs priecājamies, kad esam nespēcīgi, bet jūs stipri; to mēs arī izlūdzamies, ka jūs topat pilnīgi. 10 Tādēļ es jums to rakstu no tālienes, lai man klāt esot nevajadzētu lietot bardzību pēc tās pilnvaras, ko Tas Kungs man devis celšanai un ne postīšanai. 11 Beidzot, brāļi, esiet līksmi, topiet pilnīgi, iepriecinājieties savā starpā, esiet vienprātīgi, turiet mieru; tad mīlestības un miera Dievs būs ar jums. 12 Sveiciniet cits citu ar svēto skūpstu. Visi svētie jūs sveicina. 13 Kunga Jēzus Kristus žēlastība un Dieva mīlestība un svētā Gara sadraudzība lai ir ar jums visiem!
Final Warnings and Greetings
1 I am on my way to visit you for the third time. And as the Scriptures say, “Any charges must be proved true by at least two or three witnesses.” 2 During my second visit I warned you that I would punish you and anyone else who doesn't stop sinning. I am far away from you now, but I give you the same warning. 3 This should prove to you that I am speaking for Christ. When he corrects you, he won't be weak. He will be powerful! 4 Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We are weak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does.
5 Test yourselves and find out if you really are true to your faith. If you pass the test, you will discover that Christ is living in you. But if Christ isn't living in you, you have failed. 6 I hope you will discover we have not failed. 7 We pray you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do right, even if we are failures.
8 All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it. 9 Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray you will do even better. 10 I am writing these things to you before I arrive. This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority the Lord has given me. I was given this authority, so I could help you and not destroy you.
11 Goodbye, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other.
Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you. 12 Give each other a warm greeting. All God's people send their greetings.
13 I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.
