Forgiveness for the Offender

⁵ If anyone has caused grief,^(A) he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. ⁶ The punishment^(B) inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. ⁷ Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him,^(C) so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ Another reason I wrote you^(D) was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.^{(E) 10} Anyone 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, ¹¹ in order that Satan^(F) might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.^(G)

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹² Now when I went to Troas^(H) to preach the gospel of Christ^(I) and found that the Lord had opened a door^(J) for me,

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind.^(A) Your enemy the devil prowls around^(B) like a roaring lion^(C) looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him,^(D) standing firm in the faith,^(E) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.^(F)

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you^(G) to his eternal glory^(H) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,^(I) will himself restore you and make you strong,^(J) firm and steadfast.