2 Corinthians 2:1-13 ▼

1 I decided not to visit you again while I was distressed.

2 After all, if I had made you uncomfortable, how could you have cheered me up when you were uncomfortable?

3 This is the very reason I wrote to you. I didn't want to visit you and be distressed by those who should make me happy. I'm confident about all of you that whatever makes me happy also makes you happy.

4 I was deeply troubled and anguished. In fact, I had tears in my eyes when I wrote to you. I didn't write to make you uncomfortable but to let you know how much I love you.

5 If someone caused distress, I'm not the one really affected. To some extent-although I don't want to emphasize this too much-it has affected all of you.

6 The majority of you have imposed a severe enough punishment on that person.

7 So now forgive and comfort him. Such distress could overwhelm someone like that if he's not forgiven and comforted.

8 That is why I urge you to assure him that you love him.

9 I had also written to you to test you. I wanted to see if you would be obedient in every way.

10 If you forgive someone, so do I. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did in the presence of Christ for your benefit.

11 I don't want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan's scheming.

12 When I went to the city of Troas, the Lord gave me an opportunity to spread the Good News about Christ.

13 But I didn't have any peace of mind, because I couldn't find Titus, our brother, there. So I said goodbye to the people in Troas and went to the province of Macedonia.