| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1So I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. | 1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. |
| 2For if I grieve you, who is left to cheer me but those whom I have grieved? | 2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? |
| 3I wrote as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would share my joy. | 3I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. |
| 4For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you. | 4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. |
| 5Now if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me but all of you—to some degree, not to overstate it. | 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent--not to put it too severely. |
| 6The punishment imposed on him by the majority is sufficient for him. | 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. |
| 7So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. | 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. |
| 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. | 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. |
| 9My purpose in writing you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. | 9Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. |
| 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ for your sake, | 10Anyone 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, |
| 11in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. | 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. |
| 12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord, | 12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, |
| 13I had no peace in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. | 13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. |
| 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. | 14But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. |
| 15For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. | 15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. |
| 16To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task? | 16To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? |
| 17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God. | 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. |
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