[1] But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. [2] For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? [3] And this is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. [4] For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have abundantly for you. [5] But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you. [6] Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, [7] so that on the contrary you should rather graciously forgive and comfort him, lest such a one be swallowed up by excessive sorrow. [8] Therefore I encourage you to reaffirm your love for him. [9] For to this end also I wrote, so that I might know your proven character, whether you are obedient in all things. [10] But one whom you graciously forgive anything, I graciously forgive also. For indeed what I have graciously forgiven, if I have graciously forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, [11] so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. [12] Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord, [13] I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother. But saying farewell to them, I went on to Macedonia. [14] But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and manifests through us the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. [15] For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; [16] to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? [17] For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.
