2 Corinthians 2

1In fact, I made up my mind about this:
Lit I decided this for myself
I would not come to you on another painful visit.
Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?
Lit the one pained
3I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident d about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart – not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree – not to exaggerate e – to all of you. 6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7As a result, you should instead forgive f and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9I wrote for this purpose: to test your character g to see if you are obedient h in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven – if I have forgiven anything – it is for you in the presence of Christ. 11I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage i of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12 When I came to Troas j to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door k for me. 13I had no rest l in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, m but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. n

A Ministry of Life or Death

14 But thanks be to God, o who always puts us on display
Or always leads us in a triumphal procession, or always causes us to triumph
in Christ
Lit in the Christ, or in the Messiah; 1Co 15:22; Eph 1:10,12,20; 3:11
and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. r
15 For to God we are the fragrance s of Christ among those who are being saved t and among those who are perishing. u 16To some we are an aroma of death v leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life w leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17 For we are not like the many
Other mss read the rest
who market God’s message y for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
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