6 I hope you will discover we have not failed.
7 We pray you will stop doing evil things. We don't pray like this to make ourselves look good, but to get you to do right, even if we are failures.
8 All we can do is to follow the truth and not fight against it.
9 Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray you will do even better.
10 I am writing these things to you before I arrive. This way I won't have to be hard on you when I use the authority the Lord has given me. I was given this authority, so I could help you and not destroy you.
11 Goodbye, my friends. Do better and pay attention to what I have said. Try to get along and live peacefully with each other.Now I pray that God, who gives love and peace, will be with you.
12 Give each other a warm greeting. All God's people send their greetings.