1This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” 2I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare, 3seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me who is not weak, but is powerful in you. 4For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
5Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we may seem to have failed. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect. 10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
11Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13All the saints greet you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
| Verses | Text | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Romans 16:25-27 | Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. | Paul ends his epistle to the church of Rome with a doxology that contains many of the themes he stressed in the letter including: the sovereignty of God, the centrality of Christ, the sufficiency of the Gospel for all people, and his call to obedience to the Gospel. |
| 1 Cor 16:23-24 | "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." | After a scathing letter of rebuke, Paul uses the doxology of 1 Corinthians to remind his audience that they have not lost his affection. Much like a good parent, he rebukes them because he loves them. |
| 2 Cor 13:14. | "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." | Paul ends 2 Corinthians with a clear reference to the Trinity and a reminder of how each Person of the Godhead relates to believers. |