(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
Examine Yourselves
- This will be the third time I come to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be confirmed.”1quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 19:15
- I have warned you beforehand. And as I did while being present the second time, and though being absent now, I warn the men who have sinned beforehand and all the rest: that if I come to the same behavior again, I won’t spare anyone,
- since you seek proof that the Anointed – who isn’t weak toward you but powerful among you – speaks in me.
- For also, He was crucified from weakness but He lives by God’s power. For also, we are weak in Him but we will live with Him by God’s power in you.
- Test yourselves to see if you’re in the faith; examine yourselves. Or don’t you yourselves know that Jesus the Anointed is in you, unless you’re tested and proved counterfeit.2“tested and proved counterfeit” is one word in Greek. The root word refers to the testing of coins to prove they were genuine and not counterfeit. It’s used here with a negative prefix, meaning they didn’t “pass the test” and thus were/are counterfeit.
- But I hope that you will know that we’re tested and proved not counterfeit.3“tested and proved… …counterfeit” is one word in Greek, here combined with a negative (not). See note on previous verse.
- And we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so we might appear tested and proved genuine,4“tested and prove genuine” is one word in Greek. It was used of coins that had been tested to prove they were genuine coins, and not counterfeit or mixed with lesser metals (corrupted) but so you might do what is right. (Even if we appear tested and proved counterfeit)
- For we don’t have any power against the truth, but for the truth.
- For we rejoice when we’re weak but you’re strong. And we pray for your completion in this.
- Because of this, I write these things while being absent so while being present I won’t treat you severely, according to the authority that the Lord gave me to build up and not to tear down.
Closing
- Finally brothers, rejoice! Be perfected, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace; and the God of ^love and peace will be with you.
- Greet one another with a holy kiss.
- All the saints greet you.
- May the grace of the Anointed Lord Jesus, and the ^love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [Amen]
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