2 Corinthians 2

1In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.[#Lit I decided this for myself; #Lit not again in sorrow to come to you]

2For 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 about all of you that my joy will also be yours.[#Php 1:25]

4For 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

5If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree — not to exaggerate — to all of you.[#2Th 3:8]

6The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person.

7As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.[#Mt 6:12]

8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

9I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything.[#Rm 5:4; #Php 2:8]

10If 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 of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.[#2Co 12:17]

A Trip to Macedonia

12When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me.[#Ac 16:8; #Col 4:3]

13I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.[#2Th 1:7; #Ti 1:4; #Ac 16:9]

A Ministry of Life or Death

14But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.[#1Co 15:57; #Or always leads us in a triumphal procession, or always causes us to triumph; #Lit in the Christ, or in the Messiah ; 1Co 15:22; Eph 1:10,12,20; 3:11; #Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8]

15For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.[#Eph 5:2; Php 4:18; #Mt 9:22; Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8; #Jn 6:27]

16To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?[#Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10; #1Jn 5:12]

17For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.[#Other mss read the rest; #Mt 12:36; Mk 4:14; Lk 6:47; 8:21; Jn 1:1; 2:22; 18:32; Ac 17:11; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12]

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Published by: LifeWay Christian Resources