2 Corinthians 13:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

NIV: Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

NASB: Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, mend your ways, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

CSB: Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

NLT: Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

KJV: Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

NKJV: Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

This begins the conclusion of Paul's second letter to this group of believers. As he often does, Paul issues a series of rapid-fire instructions in a warm tone, followed by a final blessing.

Paul calls them brothers—in this context meaning brothers and sisters—including all the Corinthian believers in a declaration of his familial affection. He tells them to rejoice. They should recognize that, in Christ, they are well provided for in every moment forever. Their lives are worth celebrating.

He repeats again that they should aim or strive for restoration. This includes repentance from any ongoing sin and a return to full devotion to Christ. Paul and his friends are praying exactly that for the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 13:9).

Paul also directs them to comfort each other, agree with each other, and to live in peace. Believers should accept responsibility for building each other up. Other New Testament passages emphasize the need for Christians to "put up with" each other in a spirit of love (Colossians 3:13). That godly form of tolerance keeps us moving past issues which keep us from being united in Christ. Division was a major problem for the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10–11; 2 Corinthians 12:21). Restoration included healing those rifts.

Finally, Paul reminds these believers that the God of love and peace will be with them. Whatever has gone on in Corinth, they are not alone. God has not abandoned them. They can still receive His love and peace for them and share it with each other.

Second Corinthians 13:11–14 contains Paul's closing farewell to the Corinthians. He urges them to rejoice, to strive for restoration, and to comfort and encourage each other in like-minded unity. He assures them that the God of love and peace will be with them, reminds them to greet each other with a holy kiss, and offers greetings from believers in other churches. Finally, Paul offers a prayer of specific blessing for them from each of the three members of the Trinity.

The final chapter of Paul's letter begins with a harsh warning. Nobody living in unrepentant sin when Paul arrives will be spared Paul's discipline. All will learn that Christ speaks through Paul—because Christ will deal powerfully with their sinfulness despite Paul's own weakness. Paul urges them to examine themselves and verify that Christ is in them and, by extension, that he is a true apostle. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of all sin before he arrives so that he will not have to be severe in the use of his authority.

Second Corinthians 13 follows Paul's listing of two sets of sins he is concerned he will find among the Corinthians when he arrives. These are personal divisions and sexual immorality. He warns them once more that nobody will be spared from Christ's discipline if they remain in sin. Paul urges them to examine and test themselves to see if Christ is in them. He prays for their restoration and hopes they will repent of sin so that he does not have to be severe with them in his authority as Christ's representative when he arrives.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.