Dual Panel1That's why I decided not to make another visit that could only be painful to both of us.
2If by merely showing up I would put you in an embarrassingly painful position, how would you then be free to cheer and refresh me?
3That was my reason for writing a letter instead of coming--so I wouldn't have to spend a miserable time disappointing the very friends I had looked forward to cheering me up. I was convinced at the time I wrote it that what was best for me was also best for you.
4As it turned out, there was pain enough just in writing that letter, more tears than ink on the parchment. But I didn't write it to cause pain; I wrote it so you would know how much I care--oh, more than care--[love] you!
5Now, regarding the one who started all this--the person in question who caused all this pain--I want you to know that I am not the one injured in this as much as, with a few exceptions, all of you. So I don't want to come down too hard.
6What the majority of you agreed to as punishment is punishment enough.
7Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it.
8My counsel now is to pour on the love.
9The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church.
10So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with [your] forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us.
11After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief--we're not oblivious to his sly ways!
12When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open: God had opened the door; all I had to do was walk through it.
13But when I didn't find Titus waiting for me with news of your condition, I couldn't relax. Worried about you, I left and came on to Macedonia province looking for Titus and a reassuring word on you.
14And I got it, thank God! In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.
15Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation--an aroma redolent with life.
16But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on?
17No--but at least we don't take God's Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ's presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.