1 B ut I definitely made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful and distressing visit.

2 F or if I cause you pain, who is there to provide me enjoyment but the one whom I have grieved and made sad?

3 A nd I wrote the same to you so that when I came, I might not be myself pained by those who are the ones who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you all and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.

4 F or I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep distress of heart, with many tears, not to cause you pain but in order to make you realize the overflowing love that I continue increasingly to have for you.

5 B ut if someone has caused grief and pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, all of you.

6 F or such a one this censure by the majority sufficient.

7 S o you should rather turn and forgive and comfort and encourage, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair.

8 I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections and assure him of your love for him;

9 F or this was my purpose in writing you, to test your attitude and see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and altogether agreeable in everything.

10 I f you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence of Christ (the Messiah),

11 T o keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.

12 N ow when I arrived at Troas the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, a door of opportunity was opened for me in the Lord,

13 Y et my spirit could not rest (relax, get relief) because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave from them and departed for Macedonia.

14 B ut thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,

15 F or we are the sweet fragrance of Christ unto God, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

16 T o the latter it is an aroma from death to death; to the former it is an aroma from life to life. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things?

17 F or we are not, like so many, peddling God’s Word; but like of sincerity and the purest motive, as by God, we speak in Christ (the Messiah), in the sight and presence of God.