2 Corinthians 13
1 [In the Scriptures it is stated that when one person] accuses [another of wrongdoing, you must not believe his] accusation [right away]. [First, you must listen to at least] two or three people who actually saw what happened. [So keep in mind that] this will be the third time that I will visit you!
Zum drittenmal komme ich jetzt zu euch: "Jede Streitsache soll durch Aussage zweier oder dreier Zeugen entschieden werden."
2 When I visited you the second time, I warned you [that I was going to punish all the wrongdoers among you]. [And now] I am [warning you] again while I am still away [from you]. When I visit you this third time, I will punish those who were sinning [at the time when I visited you] before [and who are still sinning], and I will [punish] the others [who have been sinning since then, if they have not stopped their sinful behavior].
Ich habe es früher schon gesagt und sage es jetzt wieder vorher, wie als ich zum zweitenmal anwesend war und jetzt abwesend bin, denen, die früher gesündigt haben, und auch zu allen anderen: Wenn ich komme, gibt es zum zweitenmal keine Schonung.
3 Because you have demanded that I prove to you that Christ is speaking [to you when] I [speak to you, I will show you that I speak to you as his apostle. Christ] does not approve of your sinful behavior. On the contrary, he will powerfully [discipline you].
Ihr verlangt den Beweis, daß Christus in mir redet, er, der in euch nicht schwach, vielmehr mächtig ist bei euch.
4 [It is true that] Christ [seemed to be] weak when he was crucified {when [people] killed him by nailing him to the cross}. But [it is also true that] he [now] lives because God [worked] powerfully [to bring him back to life. Similarly], as I [serve] God, I also am a weak human [being as Christ was]. But I also [have a close relationship with] Christ [who is now alive again]. And with his [authority] I will use God’s power [to discipline] you.
Infolge seiner Schwachheit konnte er zwar gekreuzigt werden, durch die Allmacht Gottes aber lebt er wieder. Also sind auch wir zwar schwach in ihm; wir werden aber auch mit ihm aus Gottes Allmacht für euch leben.
5 Each of you should ask yourself: “[Do I] believe [God’s message about Christ?]” Each of you should [examine yourselves to] make sure that you truly do [believe] in Christ [and so truly belong to him], and that [his Spirit lives] in you [(pl)]. When you examine yourselves [in that way], I am sure that you will [RHQ] say [to me], “Yes, of course we [belong to] Christ.”
Prüft euch selbst, ob ihr im Glauben seid. Erprobt euch selbst! Oder erkennt ihr an euch nicht, daß Jesus Christus in euch ist? Wenn nicht, dann seid ihr unbewährt.
6 I am [also] certain that you will know that I [belong to Christ, just like you do].
Doch ich hoffe, ihr werdet finden, daß wir nicht unbewährt sind.
7 But [because I do not want to have to punish you], I am praying to God that he will help you not to do anything evil [that would cause me to have to punish you. I pray this], not in order that when people [who say that I am not your apostle] realize [that my ministry among you has been very successful, they will have to agree] that I do have authority from Christ. Instead, [I pray this because I want] you to do what is right, even though that might mean that [my opponents would think] that I do not have authority from Christ, [since I would not have an opportunity to show my authority to discipline you].
Wir beten aber zu Gott, ihr möchtet nichts Böses tun, und nicht, daß wir bewährt erscheinen, sondern daß ihr das Gute tut, wenn auch wir selber nicht bewährt sein sollten.
8 [If you do what is right, I will not discipline you], [because it would] not [be right for me to do that if you are conducting your lives the way you should, like] God’s true [message says that you should. What God asks me to do is to help people to know and obey his] true [message].
Denn wir vermögen nichts gegen die Wahrheit, vielmehr nur für die Wahrheit.
9 I am happy [whenever] you are strongly [trusting and obeying Christ, and because of that I do not have to use my authority to discipline you. It does not matter to me if that makes people think that I do not have any authority]. Truly, what I am praying for is that [God] will [help] you to completely change your conduct.
So freuen wir uns denn, wenn wir schwach sind, ihr aber stark seid; so beten wir auch um eure Vollendung.
10 That is why I am writing these things while I am still away from you. [What I want is that] when I visit you, [you will already be conducting your lives as God wants you to], and so I will not have to [discipline you] severely, as the [Lord Jesus Christ gave me] the authority to do. The authority that I have from the Lord is to help you to become [spiritually] mature believers, not to cause you to stop [trusting in him].
Ich schreibe euch dieses aus der Ferne, um nicht, wenn ich dort bin, streng sein zu müssen in Kraft der Vollmacht, die mir der Herr zum Aufbauen und nicht zum Niederreißen verliehen hat.
11 Finally, my fellow believers, [I say to you], be joyful. Completely [change how you conduct your lives], and do what I have urged you [to do]. Be united in what you think [about the matters about which I have written to you]. Live peacefully [with each other. If you do those things], God, who [enables you to] love [each other] and be peaceful, will bless [MTY] you.
Im übrigen, meine Brüder, freut euch, laßt euch wieder zurechtbringen, ermuntert euch und lebt in Einigkeit und haltet Frieden; der Gott der Liebe und des Friedens wird dann mit euch sein.
12 Greet each other affectionately as [fellow members] of God’s family [should].
Grüßt einander mit heiligem Kusse.
13 All God’s people [here] send you greetings.
Es grüßen euch alle Heiligen.
14 [I pray that] the Lord Jesus Christ will act kindly [toward] all of you, in ways that you do not deserve, that God will [show all of you how much he] loves you, and that the Holy Spirit [will cause you to have good] fellowship [with him and with each other].
Die Gnade des Herrn Jesus Christus, die Liebe Gottes und die Gemeinschaft des Heiligen Geistes seien mit euch allen.
