所以,我自己這樣決定:不再帶著憂傷到你們那裡去。 因為如果我使你們憂傷,那麼,除了我使他憂傷的那個人,誰能使我歡喜呢? 我寫了那封信[a],免得我來的時候,那些本應該使我喜樂的人使我憂傷,因為我深信你們大家以我的喜樂為你們大家的喜樂。 我在極大的患難和內心的痛苦中,流了許多淚水寫給你們,並不是要使你們憂傷,而是要你們知道我對你們懷有更多的愛。

饒恕犯罪的人

如果有人使人憂傷,他不是使我憂傷,而是在某種程度上使你們大家憂傷——我這樣說,免得說得太嚴重。 這樣的人,受了大多數人的那懲罰已經夠了。 所以,你們反而更要饒恕他、安慰他,免得他被過度的憂傷吞沒了。 因此,我懇求你們向他證實你們的愛。 其實我也為此寫了信[b],就是要知道你們經過考驗的品德:你們是否在一切事上都順從。 10 你們在任何事上饒恕了誰,我也饒恕誰;實際上,我如果饒恕了什麼,我所饒恕的,就是在基督面前為了你們的緣故而饒恕的, 11 免得被撒旦占了上風,因為我們不是不明白它的意圖。

馬其頓之行

12 我為了基督的福音來到特羅阿斯的時候,雖然主為我開了門, 13 我還是靈裡不安,因為我沒有見到我的弟兄提多。因此我向那裡的人告別,往馬其頓省去了。

生命與死亡的香氣

14 但是感謝神!他總是率領我們在基督裡誇勝,並且藉著我們,在各地傳揚因認識基督[c]而有的香氣。 15 因為在神面前,無論在得救的人中間,還是在滅亡的人中間,我們都是基督的馨香: 16 對滅亡的人,我們是死亡的香氣以至於死亡;對得救的人,我們是生命的香氣以至於生命。對這些事,到底誰配得上呢? 17 實際上,我們不像許多人那樣,用神的話語[d]來做生意;相反,我們是出於真誠、出於神,在神面前、在基督裡講話。

Footnotes

  1. 哥林多後書 2:3 那封信——原文直譯「這件事」。
  2. 哥林多後書 2:9 信——輔助詞語。
  3. 哥林多後書 2:14 基督——原文直譯「他」。
  4. 哥林多後書 2:17 神的話語——或譯作「神的道」。

爱之深责之切

我已经决定了,下次到你们那里时不再使大家忧伤。 如果我使你们忧伤,那么除了因我而忧伤的你们,还有谁能使我喜乐呢? 我曾为这事写信给你们,免得我到你们那里时,那些本该使我喜乐的人反而使我忧伤。我也深信你们会以我的喜乐为你们的喜乐。 我万分难过、泪流满面地给你们写了前一封信,并非要使你们忧伤,而是要你们明白我是多么疼爱你们。

要饶恕犯罪的人

那个令人痛心的人与其说使我忧伤,倒不如说使你们大家都有几分忧伤。我只说几分忧伤,是怕说得太重,他受不了。 这样的人受了众人的谴责也就够了。 你们现在要饶恕他、安慰他,免得他忧伤过度而一蹶不振。 我劝你们要让他确实知道你们仍然爱他。 为此,我也曾写信给你们,想知道你们是否凡事顺服。 10 你们饶恕谁,我也饶恕谁。我若饶恕,是为了你们的缘故在基督面前饶恕的, 11 免得撒旦乘虚而入,因为我们并非不知道它的诡计。

基督的香气

12 我前往特罗亚传扬基督的福音时,主为我打开了传福音的大门。 13 那时,因为没有找到提多弟兄,我心里不安,便辞别众人来到马其顿。

14 感谢上帝,祂常常在基督里率领我们走在凯旋的行列中,又借着我们到处散发那因认识基督而有的香气。 15 不论是在得救的人当中还是在灭亡的人当中,对上帝来说,我们都是基督的馨香之气。 16 对灭亡的人而言,这香气是叫人死亡的香气;对得救的人来说,这香气却是叫人得生命的香气。谁能担当这样的重任呢? 17 我们并不像许多人为了谋利而出卖上帝的道。我们是上帝差遣的,在上帝面前靠着基督诚诚实实地讲道。

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.