1In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.A 2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?A 3I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confidenta about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 4For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart — not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

5If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree — not to exaggeratea — to all of you. 6This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7As a result, you should instead forgivea and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9I wrote for this purpose: to test your charactera to see if you are obedientb in everything. 10Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11so that we may not be taken advantagea of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12When I came to Troasa to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a doorb for me, 13I had no resta in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.b Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.c

A Ministry of Life or Death

14But thanks be to God,a who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.b 15For to God we are the fragrancea of Christ among those who are being savedb and among those who are perishing.c 16To some we are an aroma of deatha leading to death, but to others, an aroma of lifeb leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17For we do not market the word of Goda for profit like so many.A On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.