2 Korinther 13
1 Zum drittenmale komme ich jetzt zu euch. Durch zweier oder dreier Zeugen Mund wird eine Sache fest.
[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!
2 Ich habe es zuvor gesagt und sage es zuvor, nämlich wie ich das zweitemal da war, und jetzt da ich abwesend bin, denen die zuvor gesündigt haben und den andern allen: daß ich, wenn ich noch einmal komme, keine Schonung kennen werde.
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].
3 Wollt ihr doch eine Probe haben, daß Christus in mir spricht, und der ist nicht schwach gegen euch, sondern mächtig über euch.
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].
4 Denn er ist wohl aus Schwachheit gekreuzigt, aber er lebt aus Gottes Kraft. So sind auch wir wohl schwach in ihm, aber wir werden leben mit ihm aus Gottes Kraft gegen euch.
[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.
5 Versuchet euch selbst, ob ihr im Glauben seid; prüfet euch selbst, oder erkennet ihr nicht an euch selbst, daß Christus Jesus unter euch ist? Ihr müßtet denn gar unecht sein.
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.”
6 Von uns aber, hoffe ich, sollt ihr erkennen, daß wir nicht unecht sind.
I am [also] certain that you will know that I [belong to Christ, just like you do].
7 Wir flehen aber zu Gott, daß ihr nichts thun möget, was vom Uebel ist; es ist uns nicht darum, daß wir als die echten gelten, sondern darum, daß ihr euch gut halten möget, und wir wie unecht dastehen.
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].
8 Denn wir vermögen nichts wider die Wahrheit, sondern nur für die Wahrheit.
[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].
9 Wir freuen uns ja, wenn wir schwach sind, ihr aber stark waret. Darauf geht auch unser Flehen, daß es mit euch richtig werde.
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.
10 Darum schreibe ich dies aus der Ferne, damit ich nicht, wenn ich da bin, kurzen Prozeß machen muß nach der Gewalt, die mir der Herr verliehen hat zur Erbauung, nicht zur Zerstörung.
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].
11 Kurz, Brüder, freuet euch, und lasset euch zurechtbringen, ermahnen; seid einerlei Sinnes, haltet Frieden, so wird der Gott der Liebe und des Friedens mit euch sein.
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.
12 Grüßet euch wechselweise mit dem heiligen Kuß.
Greet each other affectionately as [fellow members] of God’s family [should].
13 Es grüßen euch die Heiligen alle.
All God’s people [here] send you greetings.
14 Die Gnade des Herrn Jesus Christus und die Liebe Gottes und die Gemeinschaft des heiligen Geistes mit euch allen.
[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].
