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2 Corinthians 2
Christian Standard Bible

2 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.[a] 2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[b] 3 I 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(A) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 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 exaggerate(B)—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive(C) 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 character(D) to see if you are obedient(E) 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 advantage(F) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12 When I came to Troas(G) to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door(H) for me, 13 I had no rest(I) in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.(J) Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.(K)

A Ministry of Life or Death

14 But thanks be to God,(L) who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.(M) 15 For to God we are the fragrance(N) of Christ among those who are being saved(O) and among those who are perishing.(P) 16 To some we are an aroma of death(Q) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life(R) leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God(S) for profit like so many.[c] On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
  2. 2:2 Lit the one pained
  3. 2:17 Other mss read like the rest
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2 Corinthians 2
Lexham English Bible

2 For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing in order that when I[a] came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I[b] have confidence about you all, that my joy belongs to all of you[c]. 4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

Forgive and Comfort the Offender

5 But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but to some degree[d]—in order not to say too much[e]—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person. 7 So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. 9 Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sake[f] in the presence of Christ, 11 in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

Triumphant Ministry in Christ

12 Now when I[g] arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord, 13 I did not experience rest in my spirit, because[h] I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things? 17 For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have confidence”) which is understood as causal
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:3 Literally “is of all of you”
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in part”
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in order not to burden”
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:10 Literally “for the sake of you”
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:12 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal
  8. 2 Corinthians 2:13 This infinitive (“find”) is understood as causal
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2 Corinthians 1
2 Corinthians 3
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