This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.“ [1] 2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare; 3seeing that you seek a proof of al-Masih who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of Allah. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of Allah toward you. 5Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that ‘Isa al-Masih is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified. 6But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7Now I pray to Allah that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honourable, though we are as reprobate. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. 10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints greet you. 14The grace of the Lord ‘Isa al-Masih, the love of Allah, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
[1] 13:1 Quoting the Taurat, Deuteronomy 19:15.