I’m afraid that when I come I won’t find you as I want you to be, and you won’t find me as you want me to be. I’m afraid that there will be arguing, jealousy, fits of anger, selfish ambition, insults, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
That’s why I’m writing these things now, while I’m away. Then when I do come, I won’t have to use my authority and be hard on you. The Lord gave me that authority to build you up, not to tear you down.
Take a good look at yourselves to see if you really are believers. Test yourselves. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Unless, of course, you fail the test!
I pray to God that you won’t do anything wrong—not so that people will see that I’ve passed the test, but so that you will do what is right, even if it seems that I’ve failed.