1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?3I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.4For I wrote to you 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
5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent – not to put it too severely.6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.9Another reason I wrote to you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.10Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Ministers of the new covenant
12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.14But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.16To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
2 Corinthians 2
English Standard Version
1For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. (2Co 1:23; 2Co 12:20; 2Co 13:10)2For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? (2Co 7:8)3And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. (2Co 7:16; 2Co 8:22; Ga 5:10; 2Th 3:4)4For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. (Ac 20:19; 2Co 7:8; 2Co 7:12)
Forgive the Sinner
5Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. (1Co 5:1; 2Co 1:14; Ga 4:12)6For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, (1Co 5:4; 2Co 7:11)7so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. (Ga 6:1; Eph 4:32)8So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.9For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. (2Co 7:15; 2Co 10:6; Php 2:22)10Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,11so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (1Pe 5:8)
Triumph in Christ
12When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, (Ac 14:27; Ac 16:8; Ac 20:6)13my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. (2Co 7:5)14But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. (So 1:3; Ro 6:17; 2Co 8:16; 2Co 9:15; Eph 5:2; Php 4:18; Col 2:15)15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, (1Co 1:18; 2Co 4:3)16to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (Lu 2:34; Joh 9:39; 2Co 3:5; 1Pe 2:7)17For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.