4 For 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

5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggeratea—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgiveb and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your characterc to see if you are obedientd in everything. 10 Anyone 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, 11 so that we may not be taken advantagee of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A TRIP TO MACEDONIA

12 When I came to Troasf to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a doorg for me, 13 I had no resth 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

14 But 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 15 For to God we are the fragrancem of Christ among those who are being savedn and among those who are perishing.o 16 To some we are an aroma of deathp leading to death, but to others, an aroma of lifeq leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the wordAr of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.