• 1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
  • 2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
  • 3 And this is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
  • 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you.

  • Forgive and Love the Sinner

  • 5 But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you.
  • 6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,
  • 7 so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow.
  • 8 Therefore I encourage you to reaffirm your love for him.
  • 9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might know your proven character, whether you are obedient in all things.
  • 10 But one whom you graciously forgive anything, I graciously forgive also. For indeed what I have graciously forgiven, if I have graciously forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
  • 11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
  • 12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,
  • 13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother. But saying farewell to them, I went on to Macedonia.
  • 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
  • 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
  • 16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
  • 17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.