1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that makes me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me?

Forgive and Comfort the Sinning Member

3And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5But if any has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overburden you all.

6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

7So that instead you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

8Therefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him.

9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether you be obedient in all things.

10To whom you forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ;

11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

God Always Causes Us to Triumph

12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.

14Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the fragrance of his knowledge by us in every place.

15For we are unto God a sweet fragrance of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16To the one we are the fragrance of death unto death; and to the other the fragrance of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17For we are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.