2:1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. |
2:2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? |
2:3 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. |
2:4 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 especially for you. |
2:5 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. |
2:6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which {was inflicted} by the majority, |
2:7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort {him,} otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. |
2:8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm {your} love for him. |
2:9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. |
2:10 But one whom you forgive anything, I {forgive} also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, {I did it} for your sakes in the presence of Christ, |
2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. |
2:12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, |
2:13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia. |
2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. |
2:15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; |
2:16 to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? |
2:17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God. |