2CO 13:1-10

Examine Yourselves

1This third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two and three witnesses every matter shall be established."

2I have foretold, and I foretell, as being present the second time, and being absent now, to those having previously sinned and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,

3since you seek a proof of the Christ speaking in me — who is not weak toward you, but is powerful in you.

4For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives out of the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him out of the power of God toward you.

5Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless surely you are disapproved.

6But I hope that you will know that we are not disapproved.

7But we pray to God that you do nothing evil — not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is good, and we may be as disapproved.

8For we are not able anything against the truth, but for the truth.

9For we rejoice whenever we are weak, and you are powerful; this also we pray — your perfecting.

10On account of this, being absent I write these things, that being present I may not deal severely, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, public disputes often required multiple witnesses to establish credibility, as seen in Paul’s reference to 'two or three witnesses' (Deut 19:15). This legal principle was familiar to both Jewish and Roman audiences, ensuring fairness and accountability. Paul’s warning to the Corinthians reflects the honor-shame dynamics of patronage and leadership. Leaders were expected to maintain authority, and failure to do so could lead to public disgrace. Paul’s assertion of Christ’s power among them underscores the divine authority behind his words, contrasting with his own perceived weakness. The Corinthians, influenced by Greco-Roman rhetoric, may have questioned Paul’s legitimacy, seeking 'proof' of his apostleship. Paul’s call to 'examine yourselves' echoes the Stoic practice of self-examination but is rooted in Jewish covenantal faithfulness. The term , meaning 'rejected after testing,' would resonate with artisans and merchants familiar with counterfeit goods, emphasizing the seriousness of spiritual authenticity.

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How other translations render this

2CO 13:1

KJV: This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
BSB: This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Koinōnos: This third time I am coming to you. "By the mouth of two and three witnesses every matter shall be established.

2CO 13:2

KJV: 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:
BSB: 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,
Koinōnos: I have foretold, and I foretell, as being present the second time, and being absent now, to those having previously sinned and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare,

2CO 13:3

KJV: Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
BSB: since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
Koinōnos: since you seek a proof of the Christ speaking in me — who is not weak toward you, but is powerful in you.

2CO 13:4

KJV: 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.
BSB: For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by Godʼs power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by Godʼs power we will live with Him concerning you.
Koinōnos: For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives out of the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him out of the power of God toward you.

2CO 13:5

KJV: 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?
BSB: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
Koinōnos: Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not recognize yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless surely you are disapproved.

2CO 13:6

KJV: But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
BSB: And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.
Koinōnos: But I hope that you will know that we are not disapproved.

2CO 13:7

KJV: 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.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: But we pray to God that you do nothing evil — not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is good, and we may be as disapproved.

2CO 13:8

KJV: For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
BSB: For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
Koinōnos: For we are not able anything against the truth, but for the truth.

2CO 13:9

KJV: For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
BSB: In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
Koinōnos: For we rejoice whenever we are weak, and you are powerful; this also we pray — your perfecting.

2CO 13:10

KJV: Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: On account of this, being absent I write these things, that being present I may not deal severely, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2CO 13:3

a proof:The word translated 'a proof' here refers to something that has been tested and found to be genuine or approved, like a metal that has passed an assay.

2CO 13:5

do examine:The term translated 'do examine' often carries the sense of putting something to the test with the intent to discover its true nature, which can sometimes imply a negative outcome or temptation.
do test;:The word translated 'do test' implies a process of examination to determine if something is genuine, acceptable, or worthy, often with the expectation of approval.
surely even:The word translated 'surely even' describes something that has been tested and found to be counterfeit, worthless, or disapproved, like a coin that is not legal tender.