2 Corinthians 2

Evangelical Heritage Version

2 That is why I made up my mind that I would not make another sad visit to you. ² For if I make you sad, then who is there to make me glad, other than those I made sad? ³ I am writing^[a] for this very purpose: That when I arrive, I will not be made sad by those who should make me glad. I am confident about all of you—that what gives me joy is what gives joy to all of you. ⁴ In fact, out of much trouble and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears. My goal was not to make you sad, but that you would know how very much I love you.

Forgive and Comfort the Repentant Sinner

⁵ Now if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not done it to me, but to all of you to some extent (not to overstate it). ⁶ This punishment inflicted on such a person by the majority is enough, ⁷ so that instead you should rather forgive and comfort him, or else such a person could be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ For that reason, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. ⁹ In fact, this was also the purpose of my writing: I wanted to know the result of your being tested, that is, if you are obedient in all things.

¹⁰ If you forgive anyone anything, I do too. To be sure, if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, ¹¹ so that Satan would not take advantage of us. We are certainly not unaware of his schemes.

The Fragrance of Christ

¹² When I came to Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord, ¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia.

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ and reveals the fragrance of his knowledge through us in every place. ¹⁵ Yes, we are the fragrance of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To some we are the odor of death that is a prelude to death, to the others the fragrance of life that is a prelude to life. And who is qualified for these things? ¹⁷ To be sure, we are not like many who peddle the word of God for profit. Instead, in Christ we speak with sincerity in the sight of God, as men from God.