So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.^x ²For if I grieve you,^y who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? ³I wrote as I did,^z so that when I came I would not be distressed^a by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence^b in all of you, that you would all share my joy. ⁴For I wrote you^c out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender

⁵If anyone has caused grief,^d he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶The punishment^e inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,^f so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹Another reason I wrote you^g was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.^h ¹⁰Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹in order that Satanⁱ might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.^j

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Cross references

xSee 2 Co 1:23
y 2 Co 7:8
zver 4, 9; 2 Co 7:8, 12
a 2 Co 12:21
b 2 Co 7:16; 8:22; Gal 5:10; 2 Th 3:4; Phm 21
cver 3, 9; 2 Co 7:8, 12
d 1 Co 5:1, 2
e 1 Co 5:4, 5; 2 Co 7:11
f Gal 6:1; Eph 4:32; Col 3:13
gver 3, 4; 2 Co 7:8, 12
h 2 Co 7:15; 10:6
iSee Mt 4:10
j Lk 22:31; 2 Co 4:4; 1 Pe 5:8, 9