²³ I call on God as a witness,^(A) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.^(B)

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.