I wrote as I did,(A) so that when I came I would not be distressed(B) by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence(C) in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you(D) 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

If anyone has caused grief,(E) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. The punishment(F) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,(G) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. Another reason I wrote you(H) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.(I)

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And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

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Forgive the Offender

And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, (A)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, (B)having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much [a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, (C)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

But (D)if anyone has caused grief, he has not (E)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted (F)by the majority is sufficient for such a man, (G)so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are (H)obedient in all things.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:4 tribulation