2 Corinthians 1:23-2:11

English Standard Version

²³ But ^(A)I call God to witness against me—it was ^(B)to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we ^(C)lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm ^(D)in your faith.

2 For I made up my mind ^(E)not to make another painful visit to you. ² For ^(F)if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? ³ And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, ^(G)for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. ⁴ For ^(H)I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgive the Sinner

⁵ Now ^(I)if anyone has caused pain, ^(J)he has caused it not to me, but ^(K)in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. ⁶ For such a one, ^(L)this punishment by the majority is enough, ⁷ so ^(M)you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ For this is why I wrote, that I might ^(N)test you and know ^(O)whether you are obedient in everything. ¹⁰ Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for ^(P)we are not ignorant of his designs.