1So I made up my mind that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

2For if I make you sorrowful, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have made sorrowful?

3That is why I wrote ¹⁰to you as I did, so that when I came I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence about you all that my joy would be yours.

4For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you sorrow, but to let you know the abundant love I have for you.

Forgive the Sinner

5Now if anyone has caused sorrow, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure (not to put it too severely) to all of you.

6This punishment by the majority is enough for that person.

7So you should forgive and comfort him ¹¹instead, so that he will not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.

8Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

9I wrote to you because I wanted to test your character and see if you would be obedient in everything.

10Now if you forgive anyone of anything, I also forgive him. For ¹²if I have forgiven anyone of anything, I have done it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

11so that we might not be exploited by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Triumph in Christ

12Now when I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord.

13But I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. So I took leave of the people there and went on to Macedonia.

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere.

15For we are a sweet fragrance of Christ ascending to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;

16to the latter we are a smell of death leading to death, but to the former we are a fragrance of life leading to life. And who is equal to such a task?

17For we are not like ¹³others who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak with sincerity in the presence of God, as men sent from God.