Paul Urges Forgiveness

But I determined this within myself, (A)that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you (B)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, (C)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, (D)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much [a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, (E)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But (F)if anyone has caused grief, he has not (G)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted (H)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, (I)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are (J)obedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For [b]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

12 Furthermore, (K)when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and (L)a [c]door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 (M)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us [d]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ (N)among those who are being saved and (O)among those who are perishing. 16 (P)To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And (Q)who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as [e]so many, (R)peddling[f] the word of God; but as (S)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:4 tribulation
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:10 NU indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:12 Opportunity
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:14 manifests
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:17 M the rest
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:17 adulterating for gain

[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.