SECOND CORINTHIANS

 

Second Corinthians 2

1 ¶ So I decided in regard to myself, that I would not make another painful visit to you.

2 For if I make you sad, who is there to cheer me up, other than someone I have made sad?

3 And I wrote you for that very reason, so that, when I came, I would not be made sad by those who ought to make me happy; for I was confident that you would all share my happiness.

4 For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears; not to make you sad, but that you might know how very much I love you.

5 ¶ But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused sorrow only to me, but to some extent, to put it mildly, has caused all of you sorrow.

6 The punishment that was inflicted by many, is sufficient for such a man.

7 So that you should now instead forgive him, and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

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

9 One reason I wrote to you was, to see how sound you would prove to be, whether you would follow my instructions in everything.

10 Moreover, If you forgive anyone anything, I also forgive them: And what I have forgiven, if I had anything to forgive, I forgave for your sakes in the presence of Christ;

11 In order that Satan may not gain an advantage over us: for we are not unaware of his schemes.

12 ¶ Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door to me,

13 Yet I had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there: so bidding them farewell, I went on to Macedonia.

14 But thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and through us everywhere reveals the fragrance of his knowledge.

15 Because we are for God the sweet aroma of Christ, among those who are being saved, and among those who perish:

16 To the one we are an odor of death that kills; and to the other the fragrance of life that gives life. And who is equal to such a task?

17 For we are not like many, who corrupt the word of God: On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God, with sincerity, like men sent from God.