2 Corinthians 13 - Galatians 1

New International Version

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^{[a](B) 2} I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(C) On my return I will not spare^(D) those who sinned earlier^(E) or any of the others, ³ since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^(F) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^(G) yet he lives by God’s power.^(H) Likewise, we are weak^(I) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^(J) in our dealing with you.

⁵ Examine yourselves^(K) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(L) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(M)—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹ We are glad whenever we are weak^(N) but you are strong;^(O) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^{(P) 10} This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(Q) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(R)

Final Greetings

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters,^(S) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.^(T) And the God of love^(U) and peace^(V) will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.^{(W) 13} All God’s people here send their greetings.^(X)

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(Y) and the love of God,^(Z) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit^(AA) be with you all.

1 Paul, an apostle^(AB)—sent not from men nor by a man,^(AC) but by Jesus Christ^(AD) and God the Father,^(AE) who raised him from the dead^(AF)— ² and all the brothers and sisters^[b] with me,^(AG)

To the churches in Galatia:^(AH)

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(AI) 4} who gave himself for our sins^(AJ) to rescue us from the present evil age,^(AK) according to the will of our God and Father,^{(AL) 5} to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AM)

No Other Gospel

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called^(AN) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel^(AO)— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion^(AP) and are trying to pervert^(AQ) the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,^(AR) let them be under God’s curse!^{(AS) 9} As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,^(AT) let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?^(AU) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^(AV) that the gospel I preached^(AW) is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man,^(AX) nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation^(AY) from Jesus Christ.^(AZ)

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,^(BA) how intensely I persecuted the church of God^(BB) and tried to destroy it.^{(BC) 14} I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous^(BD) for the traditions of my fathers.^{(BE) 15} But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb^(BF) and called me^(BG) by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,^(BH) my immediate response was not to consult any human being.^{(BI) 17} I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.^(BJ)

¹⁸ Then after three years,^(BK) I went up to Jerusalem^(BL) to get acquainted with Cephas^[c] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James,^(BM) the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God^(BN) that what I am writing you is no lie.^(BO)

²¹ Then I went to Syria^(BP) and Cilicia.^{(BQ) 22} I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea^(BR) that are in Christ.^{(BS) 23} They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith^(BT) he once tried to destroy.”^{(BU) 24} And they praised God^(BV) because of me.