1In fact, I made up my mind about this:a I would not come to you on another painful visit.b 2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?c 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 confidentd 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 that you should be hurt, 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 exaggeratee — to all of you. 6The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7As a result, you should instead forgivef and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9I wrote for this purpose: to test your characterg to see if you are obedienth in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — it is for you in the presence of Christ. 11I have done this so that we may not be taken advantagei of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12When I came to Troasj to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a doork for me. 13I had no restl in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus,m but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.n

A Ministry of Life or Death

14But thanks be to God,o who always puts us on displayp in Christq and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.r 15For to God we are the fragrances of Christ among those who are being savedt and among those who are perishing.u 16To some we are an aroma of deathv leading to death, but to others, an aroma of lifew leading to life. And who is competent for this? 17For we are not like the manyx who market God’s messagey for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

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Footnotes:
a. 2:1 Lit I decided this for myself
b. 2:1 Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
c. 2:2 Lit the one pained
d. 2:3 Php 1:25
e. 2:5 2Th 3:8
f. 2:7 Mt 6:12
g. 2:9 Rm 5:4
h. 2:9 Php 2:8
i. 2:11 2Co 12:17
j. 2:12 Ac 16:8
k. 2:12 Col 4:3
l. 2:13 2Th 1:7
m. 2:13 Ti 1:4
n. 2:13 Ac 16:9
o. 2:14 1Co 15:57
p. 2:14 Or always leads us in a triumphal procession, or always causes us to triumph
q. 2:14 Lit in the Christ, or in the Messiah ; 1Co 15:22; Eph 1:10,12,20; 3:11
r. 2:14 Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8
s. 2:15 Eph 5:2; Php 4:18
t. 2:15 Mt 9:22; Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8
u. 2:15 Jn 6:27
v. 2:16 Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10
w. 2:16 1Jn 5:12
x. 2:17 Other mss read the rest
y. 2:17 Mt 12:36; Mk 4:14; Lk 6:47; 8:21; Jn 1:1; 2:22; 18:32; Ac 17:11; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12