Reaffirm Your Love

1But I determined this to myself, not again to come unto you in sorrow. 2For if I grieve you, who indeed is the one giving me joy, except the one being grieved by me? 3And I wrote this same thing, in order that, having come, I may not have grief over those from whom it behooves me to rejoice; and having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4For out of much tribulation and anguish of heart, I wrote to you through many tears; not in order that you may be grieved, but that you may know the divine love which I have unto you exceedingly.

5But if any one has grieved you all, he has not grieved me, but in part, that I may not burden you excessively. 6This punishment which for many to such a one is sufficient; 7so on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one may be swallowed up with excessive grief. 8Therefore I exhort you to stir up your divine love for him: 9for unto this also I wrote, in order that I may know your approval, if you are obedient in all things. 10But to whom you forgive anything, I do also: for indeed whatsoever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for your sakes in the face of Christ; 11in order that we may not be gobbled up by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

12And having come into Troas, for the gospel of Christ, and there being a door opened unto me in the Lord, 13and I had no rest to my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus: but having bidden them adieu, I came away into Macedonia.

14But thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and manifesting the fragrance of his knowledge through us in every place: 15because we are a sweet savour of Christ unto God, among those who are saved, and among those who perish; 16unto the latter a savour from death unto death; but unto the former a savour from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not as many, corrupting the word of God: but as of purity, but as from God, we speak in Christ, in the presence of God.