¹⁵ Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you^(A) first so that you might benefit twice.^{(B) 16} I wanted to visit you on my way^(C) to Macedonia^(D) and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way^(E) to Judea.^{(F) 17} Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner^(G) so that in the same breath I say both “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

¹⁸ But as surely as God is faithful,^(H) our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God,^(I) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas^[a](J) and Timothy^(K)—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always^(L) been “Yes.” ²⁰ For no matter how many promises^(M) God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”^(N) is spoken by us to the glory of God.^{(O) 21} Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm^(P) in Christ. He anointed^(Q) us, ²² set his seal^(R) of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.^(S)

²³ I call God as my witness^(T)—and I stake my life on it—that it was in order to spare you^(U) that I did not return to Corinth. ²⁴ Not that we lord it over^(V) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.^(W) 2 ¹ So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.^{(X) 2} For if I grieve you,^(Y) who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? ³ I wrote as I did,^(Z) so that when I came I would not be distressed^(AA) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence^(AB) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. ⁴ For I wrote you^(AC) out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Forgiveness for the Offender

⁵ If anyone has caused grief,^(AD) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment^(AE) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,^(AF) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ Another reason I wrote you^(AG) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.^{(AH) 10} Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Satan^(AI) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.^(AJ)

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹² Now when I went to Troas^(AK) to preach the gospel of Christ^(AL) and found that the Lord had opened a door^(AM) for me, ¹³ I still had no peace of mind,^(AN) because I did not find my brother Titus^(AO) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.^(AP)

¹⁴ But thanks be to God,^(AQ) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma^(AR) of the knowledge^(AS) of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(AT) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^{(AU) 16} To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^(AV) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^{(AW) 17} Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.^(AX) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,^(AY) as those sent from God.^(AZ)