The Certainty of Witness and Apostolic Blessing

Completion does not exist by its own power, but by our cooperation. Regarding the three times, one might say that the three makes things manifest; for from the three comes abundance, for the three are many.

Do not think that we are defending ourselves to you (2 Cor 12:19); for we have not previously been set to please men, but God (2 Cor 12:20). We intend good things before God and also before men, so that we may be revealed to God, persuading men rightly by life and fitting speech; for speaking in Christ, we are additionally speaking for God, as seeing His purpose, we do all things and say all things. Therefore, I am confident that having read this letter sincerely, you will depart from whispering, having rejected it as slave-like; for the boldness of slaves is in muttering and grumbling. But also turn away from contentions and the quarrels arising from them and from ambition; for thus it will follow that you find what you desire.

For a teacher who is prosperous in listeners, in whom he can speak wisdom, is tossed about and greatly puffed up, but is immediately humbled when those approaching need reproof and conviction regarding what they are doing badly. For if they practice fornication and uncleanness and the following debauchery and do not repent, they have died the death of the soul; so that one having a nurturing disposition toward them should rather mourn them than those building empty tombs for those who have departed from philosophy. For sensation loves to be near to those sinning, when others mourn for them with wailing. The Savior is able even according to this to bless those who mourn, since after the evil from mourning they shall be comforted by God. But because he says 'lest coming again I be humbled' (2 Cor 13:1), he shows that even previously he has sufficiently experienced this toward them, having turned them toward repentance. Therefore, he brought it about by necessity; behold, this third time I come to you, so that having the third visit instead of three witnesses, we may be certain.

They are established. For if by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is brought forth according to a judgment, it is established and confirmed; thus it was necessary through the two appearances of which I have made you certain. And since you need the fullness of being confirmed, I decided to answer you a third time. 2 Cor 13:10: I had authority over you to build you up as a city and a temple of God; and this authority I want to bear fruit, through which I write teaching that I have authority not for destruction, but for building up.

44 2 Cor 13:11: After all exhortation, he advises, having taken up oneness of mind, to hasten toward a good end; possessing themselves, they will receive genuine virtue and faith. For thus they have support, thinking the same thing, bringing peace, so that the space of the love of God might come to be among them. For this presence will make it an immovable possession for them, as each one imitating the teacher, to say: who will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus? And the following. 2 Cor 13:12-13: By power he says this; thus all the saints know you, just as they greet you, from where knowing such great men, you practice and think what they accept. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit with all of you; Amen.

It shall be, he says, for those thus blessed, the grace of the Lord Jesus, that is, saving them without works or making them having been graced. And the love of God shall be with them according to which he loves them or they love him with all heart and soul, and the communion of the Holy Spirit approaches, making spiritual and holy those who partake of it. We also do all things and say, as the blessed John says, so that they may also appear worthy of the love of God and attain the things that are coming by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and the dominion for the ages of ages; Amen.