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| 1 This third time do I come unto you; on the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every saying be established; |
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| 2 I have said before, and I say [it] before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare, |
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| 3 since a proof ye seek of the Christ speaking in me, who to you is not infirm, but is powerful in you, |
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| 4 for even if he was crucified from infirmity, yet he doth live from the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him from the power of God toward you. |
By the power of God – "Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father." God "raised up Jesus from the dead." "God hath raised up the Lord." (Rom. 6:4; 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14) R2037:5
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| 5 Your ownselves try ye, if ye are in the faith; your ownselves prove ye; do ye not know your ownselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, if ye be not in some respect disapproved of |
Examine yourselves – "Try your own selves"--look at your present condition as compared with your past. R1516:2*, 1516:3*
For the "witness" of chiselings polishings, prunings, disciplines, chastisements. E232
Whether I am something or nothing in God's estimation is to be measured by my love for him, his brethren, his cause, the world in general, and even my enemies, rather than my knowledge. R4917:6
In the faith – "The faith" is much more than belief, confidence, or trust. It involves much more than acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice as the at-one-ment. It also involves having Jesus' sacrificing spirit. R759:2*
Trials of faith can come when subtle errors are presented as advanced truth. R3104:2
Christ is in you – No real child of God is devoid of this evidence of his adoption. R3251:5
Be ye reprobates – No longer acceptable to God. R3251:4
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| 6 and I hope that ye shall know that we we are not disapproved of; |
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| 7 and I pray before God that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is right, and we may be as disapproved; |
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| 8 for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth; |
Against the truth – Our consciences will not permit us to compromise where principles are involved, though we should gladly be the readiest of all to compromise where principle is not involved. R4022:5
Whoever intelligently, willfully, heartily does anything against the truth is in serious danger. R3894:3
Some of the Lord's people are not as particular as they should be in estimating the weight of their influence and in determining they will do nothing against the truth. R3667:1
Not a finger dare we move, not a whisper utter, injurious to members of the Body of Christ. R3052:4
But for the truth – Every effort must be for the truth. R4076:6
Do all in their power for the truth--for righteousness. R3667:1
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| 9 for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for your perfection! |
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| 10 because of this, these things being absent I write, that being present, I may not treat [any] sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down. |
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| 11 Henceforth, brethren, rejoice; be made perfect, be comforted, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of the love and peace shall be with you; |
Be of one mind – This is the oneness of thought, mind and action required of the Church of God. R1130:6*
Live in peace – The comfort and peace of the Church are dependent largely upon unity of the Spirit of the Lord in the various members. R3436:5
Among yourselves--we should strive to be at peace with all who love the Lord. R2251:1
"Be at peace among yourselves." "Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." "Follow after the things which make for peace." (1 Thes. 5:13; 1 Tim. 2:2; Rom. 14:19) 2946:6
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| 12 salute one another in an holy kiss; |
An holy kiss – The Eastern custom of males kissing males. R4238:2
There would be nothing wrong in a kiss of love, but there is no intimation that the brethren should kiss the sisters or the sisters kiss the brethren. Q618:5
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| 13 salute you do all the saints; |
Saints – The word "saint" is used to designate the truly consecrated. R1139:1
Salute you – The churches were prompt to send Christian greetings. R1895:4
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| 14 the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, [is] with you all! Amen. |
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