[2 Corinthians 13]

 

             ^13:1 This will be the third-time I am coming to you^°. (Upon the mouth of two and three witnesses every declaration will be established.) {Deu 19:15} ^13:2 I have spoken to you^° beforehand and I do say again like beforehand, being present^* the second-time and so being absent now, I am writing to warn the ones who have sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come to the rest again, I will not be sparing them, ^13:3 since you^° are seeking proof of the Christ speaking in me; who is not weak toward you^°, but is mighty in you^°. ^13:4 For^* even if he was crucified out-of weakness, but yet he is living out-of the power of God. For^* we are also weak in him, but yet we will be living together-with him out-of the power of God toward you^°.

               ^13:5 Test^° yourselves, if you^° are in the faith! Test^° yourselves. Or do you^° not fully know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you^°, unless you^° are unapproved? ^13:6 But I hope that you^° will know that we are not unapproved. ^13:7 Now I pray to God that you^° do^* nothing evil; not in-order-that we may appear approved, but in-order-that you^° may do^* the good things, but even if we may be as unapproved. ^13:8 For^* we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only on behalf of the truth. ^13:9 For^* we rejoice, whenever we are weak, but you^° may be mighty. But we are also praying for this: your^° completion {Or: mending}. ^13:10 I am writing these things because of this, while being absent, in-order-that I may not need to treat you^° sharply when being present^*, according-to the authority which the Lord gave me ^*for building up and not ^*for demolition.

 

             ^13:11 Furthermore brethren: rejoice^°; be^° mended; be^° comforted; be^° mindful of the same thing; be^° at peace; and the God of love^* and peace will be with you^°. ^13:12 Greet^° one another with^* a holy kiss. ^13:13 All the holy-ones are greeting you^°. ^13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love^* of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is with all of you^°.

             Amen.

 

             {NOTES: Please read the Preface and other non-bible sections. * is our universal footnoting for words contained in the ‘Definitions’ section. These words are NOT the same Greek word as the non-asterisk form; i.e., *FOR is different from FOR* is different from FOR. ^° (degree sign) denotes plural forms.}

 

 

 

{{ Introduction to Galatians 55-58 AD

 

            The letter is addressed to Christians as are all ‘letters’ and this time multiple congregations all located in Galatia. Paul wastes no time getting right to the point that there is only ‘one good-news of Jesus’ and that anyone proclaiming a different good-news is accursed. Apparently, some Christian who were Jews were teaching the other Christians that they had to be circumcised and keep the Old Covenant Laws. A wonderful comparison of the ‘promise to Christians’ and the ‘faith of Abraham’ and ‘the faith of Christ’ seen here in Galatians. The real purpose of God was always to bring Christ into the world. However, Paul with various arguments pretty much put it in the context in 5:1-6. Circumcision is not profiting, but if you keep any of the Law (Old Testament), then you have to practice all of it. However, in Christ, all are free from the Old Testament Law and Christians are not a slave to it. Then the typical ‘slap on the face’ from Paul ‘you^° who are made righteous by the law; you° fell from the grace of God.’

            Therefore, if you are keeping tithing, then you have to keep the Sabbath (Saturday) and about 613 more laws. Then once again ‘who hindered you^°’ from obeying the truth, ‘I wish-that the ones unsettling you°, will even castrate themselves’ No doubt, we know Paul’s (God’s) opinion of false teachers who lead Christians away from the truth by making them keep Old Testament Law. ‘For^* all the law is fulfilled in one word, in the command: ‘You will love^* your neighbor like yourself.’ 5:14.}}