1 THIS is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
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:
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
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.
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?
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
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.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 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.
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

1This is the third time I am comming to you: in the mouth of two or three witnesses shal euery word be established.

2I told you before, and foretell you as if I were present the second time, and being absent, now I write to them which heretofore haue sinned, and to all other, that if I come againe I will not spare:

3Since ye seeke a proofe of Christ, speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weake, but is mightie in you.

4For though hee was crucified through weaknesse, yet he liueth by the power of God: for wee also are weake in him, but wee shall liue with him by the power of God toward you.

5Examine your selues, whether ye be in the faith: proue your owne selues. Know yee not your owne selues, how that Iesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

6But I trust that yee shall knowe that we are not reprobates.

7Now I pray to God, that ye doe no euill, not that we should appeare approued, but that ye should doe þt which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

8For wee can doe nothing against the trueth, but for the trueth.

9For wee are glad when wee are weake, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, euen your perfection.

10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should vse sharpnesse, according to the power which the Lord hath giuen me to edification, and not to destruction.

11Finally, brethren, farewell: Bee perfect, bee of good comfort, bee of one minde, liue in peace, and the God of loue and peace shalbe with you.

12Greet one another with an holy kisse.

13All the Saints salute you.

14The grace of the Lord Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second Epistle to the Corinthians, was written from Philippos a citie of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

 

1 This third time I am coming to you. "On the testimony of two or three witnesses a fact shall be established." 2 I warned those who sinned earlier and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not be lenient, 3 since you are looking for proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you but powerful in you. 4 For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. So also we are weak in him, but toward you we shall live with him by the power of God. 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless, of course, you fail the test. 6 I hope you will discover that we have not failed. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do evil, not that we may appear to have passed the test but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement. 10 I am writing this while I am away, so that when I come I may not have to be severe in virtue of the authority that the Lord has given me to build up and not to tear down. 11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you.

v1. Third visit mentioned in 12:14. Paul is not going to act rashly, but charges against him needed to be confirmed by witnesses as in Deut. 19:15. 
v2-4. He is not pulling any punches, but is issuing strong warning as they had already been warned on his second visit. He was compelled to act with apostolic power as a minister of Christ, because in challenging him, they were challenging Christ. The very fact that Paul had led them to the Lord was proof that Christ was speaking through Paul. Christ appeared weak in crucifixion, but showed his power in resurrection. Paul too had appeared weak before them, but he would come to them with the authority of the risen Christ.
v5. Paul does not wish to condemn them, but to have them examine and evaluate themselves for the true fruits of Christianity. This would bring them back to Christ unless they are counterfeit, have never been really born again.
v6. If they do this, they will also recognize that Paul is not disapproved.
v7-9. In the final analysis, Paul is not concerned about his own reputation, but his prayer is that the Corinthians may be approved before God.
10. If they heed the things Paul has written, he will be able to come to them without sharpness. He will be able to concentrate his efforts on building them up, not in tearing them down. The responsibility is on their shoulders.
11. In his farewell Paul encourages them to be perfected, (Progressive maturity as in 2 Cor. 7:1) not perfect, and to correct the flaws that have marred fellowship. To be of good comfort was to be encouraged. Being of one mind was not to abandon individual convictions, but to have a common commitment to Christ. To be at peace was to lay aside inner hostilities.
v12. The holy or consecrated kiss would show that there had been reconciliation.
v13,14. Response to this letter should promote revival and not only unity in the church, but fellowship with believers elsewhere. This is not just a benediction for a pastor to use at the end of a service, although it may be so used. It expresses the work of the entire Trinity. Favor and spiritual blessing from Christ; love from God the Father which is the basis for salvation and all Christian living; and the sharing together and participation of the Holy Spirit binding believers together harmoniously in one body.