• 1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.
  • 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

  • Forgive the Offender

  • 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.
  • 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
  • 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
  • 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,
  • 7 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.
  • 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
  • 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
  • 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
  • 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

  • Triumph in Christ

  • 12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
  • 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.
  • 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
  • 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
  • 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
  • 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.