1 A nd I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you,

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 sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry 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 to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having confidence in you all, that my joy is 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 tribulation and pressure of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not that ye might be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly toward 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 A nd if any one hath caused sorrow, he hath not caused sorrow to me, but in part, that I may not burden 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 punishment, that by the more part,

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

7 s o that, on the contrary, rather for you to forgive and to comfort, lest by over abundant sorrow such a one may be swallowed up;

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 w herefore, I call upon you to confirm love to him,

I ask you to show him you do love him.

9 f or, for this also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether in regard to all things ye are obedient.

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

10 A nd to whom ye forgive anything -- I also; for I also, if I have forgiven anything, to whom I have forgiven, because of you -- 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 t hat we may not be over-reached by the Adversary, for of his devices we are not ignorant.

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

12 A nd having come to Troas for the good news of the Christ, and a door to me having been opened 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 have not had rest to my spirit, on my not finding Titus my brother, but having taken leave of them, I went forth to 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 a nd to God thanks, who at all times is leading us in triumph in the Christ, and the fragrance of His knowledge He is manifesting through 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 b ecause of Christ a sweet fragrance we are to God, in those being saved, and in those being lost;

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, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?

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 the many, adulterating the word of God, but as of sincerity -- but as of God; in the presence of God, in Christ we do speak.

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.