| New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
| 1So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. | 1Now I decided not to pay you another painful visit. |
| 2For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. | 2After all, if I were to grieve you, who should make me happy but the person I am making sad? |
| 3That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. | 3This is the very reason I wrote you, so that when I did come I might not be made sad by those who should have made me happy. For I had confidence that all of you would share the joy that I have. |
| 4I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. Forgiveness for the Sinner | 4I wrote to you out of great sorrow and anguish of heart—along with many tears—not to make you sad but to let you know how much love I have for you. |
| 5I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. | 5But if anyone has caused grief, he didn't cause me any grief. To some extent—I don't want to emphasize this too much—it has affected all of you. |
| 6Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. | 6This punishment by the majority is severe enough for such a man. |
| 7Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. | 7So forgive and comfort him, or else he will drown in his excessive grief. |
| 8So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. | 8That's why I'm urging you to assure him of your love. |
| 9I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. | 9I had also written to you to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in every way. |
| 10When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, | 10When you forgive someone, I do, too. Indeed, what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I did in the presence of the Messiah for your benefit, |
| 11so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. | 11so that we may not be outsmarted by Satan. After all, we are not unaware of his intentions. |
| 12When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. | 12When I went to Troas on behalf of the gospel of the Messiah, the Lord opened a door for me, |
| 13But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him. Ministers of the New Covenant | 13but my spirit could not find any relief, because I couldn't find Titus, my brother. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. |
| 14But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. | 14But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. |
| 15Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. | 15To God we are the aroma of the Messiah among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. |
| 16To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? | 16To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a living fragrance. Who is qualified for this? |
| 17You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. | 17At least we are not commercializing God's word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah's name, like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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