愛之深責之切

我已經決定了,下次到你們那裡時不再使大家憂傷。 如果我使你們憂傷,那麼除了因我而憂傷的你們,還有誰能使我喜樂呢? 我曾為這事寫信給你們,免得我到你們那裡時,那些本該使我喜樂的人反而使我憂傷。我也深信你們會以我的喜樂為你們的喜樂。 我萬分難過、淚流滿面地給你們寫了前一封信,並非要使你們憂傷,而是要你們明白我是多麼疼愛你們。

要饒恕犯罪的人

那個令人痛心的人與其說使我憂傷,倒不如說使你們大家都有幾分憂傷。我只說幾分憂傷,是怕說得太重,他受不了。 這樣的人受了眾人的譴責也就夠了。 你們現在要饒恕他、安慰他,免得他憂傷過度而一蹶不振。 我勸你們要讓他確實知道你們仍然愛他。 為此,我也曾寫信給你們,想知道你們是否凡事順服。 10 你們饒恕誰,我也饒恕誰。我若饒恕,是為了你們的緣故在基督面前饒恕的, 11 免得撒旦乘虛而入,因為我們並非不知道牠的詭計。

基督的香氣

12 我前往特羅亞傳揚基督的福音時,主為我打開了傳福音的大門。 13 那時,因為沒有找到提多弟兄,我心裡不安,便辭別眾人來到馬其頓。

14 感謝上帝!祂常常在基督裡率領我們走在凱旋的行列中,又藉著我們到處散發那因認識基督而有的香氣。 15 不論是在得救的人當中還是在滅亡的人當中,對上帝來說,我們都是基督的馨香之氣。 16 對滅亡的人而言,這香氣是叫人死亡的香氣;對得救的人來說,這香氣卻是叫人得生命的香氣。誰能擔當這樣的重任呢? 17 我們並不像許多人為了謀利而出賣上帝的道。我們是上帝差遣的,在上帝面前靠著基督誠誠實實地講道。

[a]But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow. For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me? And I wrote this very thing, 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 made sorry, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all. Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by [b]the many; so that contrariwise ye should [c]rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you to confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, [d]whether ye are obedient in all things. 10 But to whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes have I forgiven it in the [e]presence of Christ; 11 that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

12 Now when I came to Troas for the [f]gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord, 13 I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.

14 But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. 15 For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that [g]are saved, and in them that [h]perish; 16 to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as the many, [i]corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:1 Some ancient authorities read For.
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:6 Greek the more.
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:7 Some ancient authorities omit rather.
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:9 Some ancient authorities read whereby.
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:10 Or, person
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:12 Greek good tidings. See marginal note on Mt. 4:23.
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or, are being saved
  8. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or, are perishing
  9. 2 Corinthians 2:17 Or, making merchandise of the word of God. Compare 2 Pet. 2:3.