Signs of an Apostle

11 I have become na fool 3in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for oin nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though pI am nothing. 12 qTruly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and rwonders and mighty sdeeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

Love for the Church

14 tNow for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for uI do not seek yours, but you. vFor the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent wfor your souls; though xthe more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, yI did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our zbrother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 aAgain, 4do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? bWe speak before God in Christ. cBut we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that dI shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God ewill humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many fwho have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, gfornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

Coming with Authority

13 This will be athe third time I am coming to you. b“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 cI have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent 1I write to those dwho have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again eI will not spare—3 since you seek a proof of Christ fspeaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty gin you. 4 hFor though He was crucified in weakness, yet iHe lives by the power of God. For jwe also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.

5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, kthat Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you 2are ldisqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.