AND I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in distress.
2 For if I make you distressed, who then will make me rejoice? If not those, made distressed by me?
3 ¶ Also I wrote the same to you; lest, when I came, I should have distress from those of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all: that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be distressed, but that you know the love which I have abundantly for you.
5 Now if any has caused distress, he has not distressed me, but only in part: not that I wish to burden you all.
6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment: that he was inflicted by many.
7 So that contrariwise you ought to rather forgive him, and encourage him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with too great a distress.
8 Therefore I beseech you, that you would confirm your love towards him.
9 ¶ For, to this end I wrote also: that I might know the proof of you, whether you be obedient in all things.
10 And whom you forgive anything, I will forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes I forgave it in the presence of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should take advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Triumph in Christ
12 ¶ Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me in the Lord;
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; rather taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.
14 ¶ Now thanks be to God, whom always causes us to triumph in Christ; and makes known the fragrance of his knowledge through us in every place.
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ, in those that are saved; also in those of destruction.
16 To the one: we are the fragrance of death, leading to death; and to the other: the fragrance of life, leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as the many: whom make merchandise of the word of God; but from sincerity, and rather: as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.