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.
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Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,
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so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow.
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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,
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so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
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Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,
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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.
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For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
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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?
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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.