For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow. For if I cause you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me? 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]. 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

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. This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person. So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. 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

So gar I decided krinō this houtos within myself emautou, not to come erchomai to pros you hymeis again palin with en sorrow lypē. For gar if ei I egō cause you hymeis sorrow lypeō, then kai who tis is there ho to make me egō glad euphrainō except ei mē the ho one made sorrowful lypeō by ek me egō? And kai I wrote graphō this houtos very thing autos so that hina when I came erchomai, I would echō not have echō sorrow lypē from apo those hos who ought dei to make me egō rejoice chairō, having confidence peithō in epi you hymeis all pas that hoti · ho my emos joy chara would be eimi the joy of you hymeis all pas. For gar out ek of much polys distress thlipsis and kai anguish synochē of heart kardia I wrote graphō to you hymeis, with dia many polys tears dakryon, not ou to hina cause you sorrow lypeō but alla to hina let you know ginōskō the ho love agapē that hos I have echō especially perissoterōs for eis you hymeis. But de if ei anyone tis has caused sorrow lypeō, he has caused sorrow lypeō not ou for me egō, but alla in apo some measure meros not to hina overstate the case epibareō—for all pas of you hymeis. This houtos punishment epitimia on ho such a person toioutos · ho · ho by hypo the ho majority polys is enough hikanos for him, so that hōste you hymeis should rather mallon forgive charizomai and kai console parakaleō him, lest mē pōs he toioutos be swallowed up katapinō by ho excessive perissoteros sorrow lypē. · ho So dio I urge parakaleō you hymeis to show that your love agapē for eis him autos is real kyroō. For eis this houtos reason also kai I wrote graphō you: to hina discover ginōskō whether you hymeis could · ho stand the test dokimē if ei in eis everything pas you are eimi obedient hypēkoos. 10 Now de the one to whom hos you forgive charizomai anything tis, I also kagō do the same; for gar indeed kai, what hos I egō have forgiven charizomai if ei I have forgiven charizomai anything tis—I did so for dia your hymeis benefit in en the presence prosōpon of Christ Christos, 11 lest hina mē we be taken advantage pleonekteō of by hypo · ho Satan Satanas; for gar we are agnoeō not ou unaware of agnoeō his autos · ho intentions noēma.

12 When I came erchomai · de to eis · ho Troas Trōias to eis proclaim the ho gospel euangelion of ho Christ Christos, even kai though anoigō a door thura had been opened anoigō for me egō by en the Lord kyrios, 13 I had echō no ou relief anesis for ho my egō spirit pneuma, · ho because I egō could not find heuriskō my egō brother adelphos Titus Titos · ho there. So alla I said good-bye apotassō to them autos and went exerchomai on to eis Macedonia Makedonia. 14 But de thanks charis be to ho God theos, who ho is always pantote leading thriambeuō us hēmeis in triumph in en · ho Christ Christos, and kai through dia us hēmeis is making known phaneroō the ho fragrance osmē of the ho knowledge gnōsis of him autos in en every pas place topos. 15 For hoti we are eimi an aroma euōdia of Christ Christos to ho God theos among en those ho who are being saved sōzō. · kai Among en those ho who are perishing apollymi 16 we are a deadly ek fume osmē that eis kills thanatos, but de to the former hos we are a life-giving ek fragrance osmē that eis brings life zōē. And kai who tis is adequate hikanos for pros ministry like this houtos? 17 For gar we are eimi not ou like hōs · ho so many polys, peddling kapēleuō the ho word logos of ho God theos. To the contrary alla, in en Christ Christos we speak laleō in the sight katenanti of God theos as hōs men of ek sincerity eilikrineia, as hōs men sent from ek God theos.