2In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.^B ²For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?^C ³I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident^ax about all of you that my joy will also be yours. ⁴For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A SINNER FORGIVEN

⁵If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate^a—to all of you. ⁶This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. ⁷As a result, you should instead forgive^b and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. ⁸Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹I wrote for this purpose: to test your character^c to see if you are obedient^d in everything. ¹⁰Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, ¹¹so that we may not be taken advantage^e of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A TRIP TO MACEDONIA

¹²When I came to Troas^f to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door^g for me, ¹³I had no rest^h in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.ⁱ Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.ⁱ

A MINISTRY OF LIFE OR DEATH

¹⁴But thanks be to God,^k who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.^l ¹⁵For to God we are the fragrance^m of Christ among those who are being savedⁿ and among those who are perishing.^o ¹⁶To some we are an aroma of death^p leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life^q leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷For we do not market the word^D^r of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

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Footnotes

B not again in sorrow to come to you
C the one pained
DOther read like the rest

Cross references

ax Php 1:25
a 2Th 3:8
b Mt 6:12
c Rm 5:4
d Php 2:8
e 2Co 12:17
f Ac 16:8
g Col 4:3
h 2Th 1:7
i Ti 1:4
i Ac 16:9
k 1Co 15:57
l Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8
m Eph 5:2; Php 4:18
n Mt 9:22; Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8
o Jn 6:27
p Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10
q 1Jn 5:12
r Mt 12:36; Mk 4:14; Lk 6:47; 8:21; Jn 1:1; 2:22; 18:32; Ac 17:11; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12