2 Corinthians 2:1–11

¹In fact, I made up my mind about this: ^gI would not come to you on another painful visit. ^h2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me? ⁱ³I 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 ^jabout 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 that you should be hurt, 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 ^k—to all of you. ⁶The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. ⁷As a result, you should instead forgive ^land comfort him. Otherwise, this one 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 ^mto see if you are obedient ⁿin everything. ¹⁰If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for you in the presence of Christ. ¹¹I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage ^oof by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.