Dual Panel1In fact, I made up my mind about this: not to come to you on another painful visit.
2For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one hurt?
3I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn't have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy is yours.
4For out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart I wrote to you with many tears--not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.
5If anyone has caused pain, he has not caused pain to me, but in some degree--not to exaggerate--to all of you.
6The punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person,
7so now you should forgive and comfort him instead; otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
8Therefore I urge you to confirm your love to him.
9It was for this purpose I wrote: so I may know your proven character, if you are obedient in everything.
10Now to whom you forgive anything, I do too. For what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is for you in the presence of Christ,
11so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his intentions.
12When I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, a door was opened to me by the Lord.
13I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.
14But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him.
15For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16To some we are a scent of death leading to death, but to others, a scent of life leading to life. And who is competent for this?
17For we are not like the many who make a trade in God's message for profit , but as those with sincerity, we speak in Christ, as from God and before God.