1 ¶ But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in grief.

As I thought about it, I decided I would not come to you again. It would only make you sad.

2 F or if I make you grieve, who is he then that shall make me glad, but the same who is grieved by me?

If I make you sad, who is going to make me happy? How can you make me happy if I make you sad?

3 A nd I wrote this same unto you, lest when I came, I should have grief from those of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

That is why I wrote that letter to you. I did not want to visit you and be made sad by the ones who should be making me happy. I am sure when I am happy, you are happy also.

4 F or out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know how much more charity I have towards you.

I wrote you with a troubled heart. Tears were coming from my eyes. I did not want to make you sad. I wanted you to know how much I loved you. Forgiving a Christian

5 ¶ But if any have caused me grief, he has not grieved me, but in part, that I may not put a burden on you all.

If someone among you has brought sorrow, he has not made me as sad as he has all of you. I say this so I may not make it hard for you.

6 S ufficient to such a one is this reprehension, which was inflicted of many.

Most of you have punished him. That is enough for such a person.

7 S o that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with too much grief.

Now you should forgive him and comfort him. If you do not, he will be so sad that he will want to give up.

8 T herefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your charity toward him.

I ask you to show him you do love him.

9 F or to this end also I wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.

This is why I wrote to you. I wanted to test you to see if you were willing to obey in all things.

10 T o whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also; for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes I forgave it in the person of Christ,

If you forgive a man, I forgive him also. If I have forgiven anything, I have done it because of you. Christ sees me as I forgive.

11 l est Satan should deceive us, for we do not ignore his devices.

We forgive so that Satan will not win. We know how he works!

12 ¶ Having come to Troas for the gospel of the Christ, even though a door was opened unto me in the Lord,

When I arrived in the city of Troas, the Lord opened the door for me to preach the Good News of Christ.

13 I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went from there into Macedonia.

I was worried because I could not find our brother Titus. After saying good-bye, I went on my way to the country of Macedonia.

14 N ow thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in the Christ and makes manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it.

15 F or we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in those that are saved and in those that perish;

We are a sweet smell of Christ that reaches up to God. It reaches out to those who are being saved from the punishment of sin and to those who are still lost in sin.

16 t o the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

It is the smell of death to those who are lost in sin. It is the smell of life to those who are being saved from the punishment of sin. Who is able for such a work?

17 F or we are not as many, false merchandisers of the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

We are not like others. They preach God’s Word to make money. We are men of truth and have been sent by God. We speak God’s Word with Christ’s power. All the time God sees us.