1 But I determined this for myself, that I
would not come to you again in sorrow.
2 For if I make you grieve, then who will
make me glad but he who is made to grieve
by me?
3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so
that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow
from them of whom I ought to rejoice;
having confidence in you all that my joy
would be shared by all of you.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish
of heart I wrote to you with many tears,
not that you should be made to grieve, but
that you might know the love that I have so
abundantly for you.
5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has
caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I
not press too heavily) to you all.
6 This punishment which was inflicted
by the many is sufficient for such a one;
7 so that, on the contrary, you should
rather forgive him and comfort him, lest
by any means such a one should be swallowed
up with his excessive sorrow.
8 Therefore I beg you to confirm your
love towards him.
9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might
know the proof of you, whether you are
obedient in all things.
10 Now I also forgive whomever you forgive
anything. For if indeed I have forgiven
anything, I have forgiven that one
for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11 that no advantage may be gained over
us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his
schemes.
12 Now when I came to Troas for the
Good News of Christ, and when a door was
opened to me in the Lord,
13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I
didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my
leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God who always
leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals
through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge
in every place.
15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to
God in those who are saved and in those
who perish:
16 to the one a stench from death to
death, to the other a sweet aroma from life
to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as so many, peddling
the word of God. But as of sincerity, but
as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in
Christ.
