2 Corinthians 2:5-3:6

Christian Standard Bible

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^(A)—to all of you. ⁶ This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. ⁷ As a result, you should instead forgive^(B) 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^(C) to see if you are obedient^(D) 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^(E) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

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

A Ministry of Life or Death

¹⁴ But thanks be to God,^(K) who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.^{(L) 15} For to God we are the fragrance^(M) of Christ among those who are being saved^(N) and among those who are perishing.^{(O) 16} To some we are an aroma of death^(P) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life^(Q) leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we do not market the word of God^(R) 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.^{(S) 3} You show that you are Christ’s letter,^(T) delivered^[b] by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God^(U)—not on tablets of stone^(V) but on tablets of human hearts.^[c](W)

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.^{(X) 6} He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant,^(Y) not of the letter,^(Z) but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.