[1] But I decided this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. [2] For if I cause you sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? [3] 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 was 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 especially for you. [5] But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree—not to say too much—for all of you. [6] Sufficient for such a person is this punishment which was imposed by the majority, [7] so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. [8] Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. [9] For to this end I also wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. [10] But one whom you forgive anything, I also forgive; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did so 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 goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia. [14] But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance 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 adequate for these things? [17] For we are not like the many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
