1BUT I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in sadness. 2For if I make you sad, who can make me happy, but him whom I made sad? 3And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I come to you I may not be made sad by those who ought to make me joyful; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4For out of great affliction and anguish of heart, I wrote you with many tears; not to make you feel distressed, but that you may know the abundant love I have for you.

5But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me only, but to a certain degree all of you, therefore the news will not be a shock to you. 6The rebuke of many persons is sufficient for such a man. 7So that from henceforth you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one will be overcome with overmuch grief. 8I beseech you therefore that you confirm your love toward him. 9For that is why I wrote you, that I might know by your word whether you are obedient in all things. 10To whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for anything which I have forgiven, to whomever I forgave it, it is for your sakes I forgave it in the presence of Christ: 11Lest Satan might take advantage of us: for we know his devices.

12Furthermore, when I came to Troas with the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me of the LORD, 13I could not rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; hence I took leave of them, and left for Mac-e-do’ni-a.

14Now thanks be to God, who has made us in the pattern of Christ, and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge through us in every place. 15For we are a sweet savour to God through Christ, in those who are saved and in those who perish: 16To the one the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is worthy of these things? 17For we are not like those who corrupt the word of God: but according to the truth, and as men of God we speak through Christ in the sight of God.