2:1 But I decided this ①for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
▷ ①Or as far as I am concerned
2:2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then will be the one making me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?
2:3 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.
2:4 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.
2:5 But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not for me, but in some degree— ①not to say too much—for all of you.
▷ ①Lit so that I not be burdensome
2:6 Sufficient for such a person is this punishment which was imposed by the majority,
2:7 so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2:8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For to this end I also wrote, so that I might ①put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
▷ ①Lit know the proof of you
2:10 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,
2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
2:12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,
2:13 I had no rest for my spirit, not finding Titus my brother; but saying goodbye to them, I went on to Macedonia.
2:14 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.
2:15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:
2:16 to the one an ①aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
▷ ①Or odor
2:17 For we are not like the many, ①peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
▷ ①Or diluting