A Sinner Forgiven

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. This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. As a result, you should instead forgive(B) and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 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.

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Forgive and Comfort the Offender

But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but to some degree[a]in order not to say too much[b]to all of you. This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person. So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him. Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sake[c] in the presence of Christ, 11 in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in part”
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:5 Literally “in order not to burden”
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:10 Literally “for the sake of you”