2 Corinthians 2
Legacy Standard Bible
2 But I determined this [a]for my own sake, that I (A)would not come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I (B)cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? 3 And this is the very thing I (C)wrote you, so that (D)when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having (E)confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I (F)wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you.
Forgive and Love the Sinner
5 But (G)if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—[b]in order not to say too much—to all of you. 6 Sufficient for such a one is (H)this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, 7 so that on the contrary you should rather (I)graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow. 8 Therefore I encourage you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For to this end also (J)I wrote, so that I might (K)know your proven character, whether you are (L)obedient in all things. 10 But one whom you graciously forgive anything, I graciously forgive also. For indeed what I have graciously forgiven, if I have graciously forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes (M)in the presence of Christ, 11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by (N)Satan, for (O)we are not ignorant of his schemes.
12 Now when I came to (P)Troas for the (Q)gospel of Christ and when a (R)door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 I (S)had no rest for my spirit, not finding (T)Titus my brother. But (U)saying farewell to them, I went on to (V)Macedonia.
14 (W)But thanks be to God, who always (X)leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the (Y)aroma of the (Z)knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a (AA)fragrance of Christ to God among (AB)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 (AC)to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is (AD)sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not like many, [c](AE)peddling the word of God, but (AF)as from sincerity, but as from God, (AG)in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 Or as far as I am concerned
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 Lit so that I not be burdensome
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 Or corrupting
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.
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