1 ARST { The scripture says:}“At least two or three witnesses must say the same thing{ about someone} before we can believe that it is true.”{ Be aware that} the next time that I visit you will be the third time{ that I will be a witness to what you are doing}. BSB BSB: This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
2 ARST When I visited you the second time, I warned all of you that I was going to punish everyone among you who had been sinning. And now I am warning you again while I am still away from you. When I visit you this third time, I will punish everyone who has been sinning. BSB 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,
3 ARST I tell you this because you have demanded that I prove to you that the Messiah is speaking to you when I speak to you.{ You will know this when he disciplines you.} He will not be weak with you; instead, he will work powerfully among you. BSB 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.
4 ARST You see,{ as a man,} the Messiah allowed himself to be weak when people nailed him to a cross. But God is powerful, and he has made him alive again. We, too, are weak human beings, as he was. But God also works powerfully in us to make us live as the Messiah does, so we will work powerfully among you. BSB BSB: For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
6 ARST As for us, I am certain that you will understand that we have passed the test. BSB BSB: And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.
7 ARST We pray to God that you may not be doing any bad things. We pray for this, not because we want people to consider that we have been successful{ in disciplining you}, but so that you would be doing good things. We want this for you even if it means that people consider that we have failed{ because you did not need us}. BSB 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.
8 ARST We want you to do good things{ even if then we cannot discipline you and appear to be powerful} because we must obey God’ s true message. We cannot do anything that contradicts God’ s true message. BSB BSB: For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9 ARST We are happy when{ people think that} we are weak, because you are strong{ in obeying God}{ without needing discipline from us}. This is the very thing that we pray for, that you may decide to trust and obey God completely. BSB BSB: In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
10 ARST It is because I want you to trust and obey God completely that I am writing to you about these things while I am apart from you. Then when I come to you, I will not have to discipline you severely. The Lord has empowered me to represent him, but he did that so that I could encourage and help you{ to trust God more}, not so that I could discourage you{ from trusting God}. BSB 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.
11 ARST Here are the last things that I want to say to you, my fellow believers. Be joyful! Live in the way that God wants you to live. Let the things that I have said to you encourage you{ to trust God more}. Agree with each other{ about the important things}. Live peacefully with each other.{ If you do these things,} God will be with you. He is the one who enables you to love and to be peaceful with others. BSB BSB: Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.