2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6

Christian Standard Bible

A Trip to Macedonia

¹² When I came to Troas^(A) to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door^(B) for me, ¹³ I had no rest^(C) in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.^(D) Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.^(E)

A Ministry of Life or Death

¹⁴ But thanks be to God,^(F) who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.^{(G) 15} For to God we are the fragrance^(H) of Christ among those who are being saved^(I) and among those who are perishing.^{(J) 16} To some we are an aroma of death^(K) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life^(L) leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we do not market the word of God^(M) for profit like so many.^[a] On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Living Letters

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{(N) 3} You show that you are Christ’s letter,^(O) delivered^[b] by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God^(P)—not on tablets of stone^(Q) but on tablets of human hearts.^[c](R)

Paul’s Competence

⁴ Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵ It is not that we are competent in^[d] ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.^{(S) 6} He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,^(T) not of the letter,^(U) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.