2
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 toward
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.