2 Cor 2:1But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit.
2 Cor 2:2For if I cause you grief [by a well-deserved rebuke], who then provides me enjoyment but the very one whom I have made sad?
2 Cor 2:3And I wrote this same thing to you, so that when I came, I would not be filled with sorrow by those who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you and felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.
2 Cor 2:4For I wrote to you out of great distress and with an anguished heart, and with many tears, not to cause you sorrow but to make you realize the [overflowing] love which I have especially for you.
2 Cor 2:5¶ But if someone has caused [all this] sorrow, he has caused it not to me, but in some degree--not to put it too severely--[he has distressed and grieved] all of you.
2 Cor 2:6For such a one this punishment by the majority is sufficient,
2 Cor 2:7so instead [of further rebuke, now] you should rather [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage him, to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
2 Cor 2:8Therefore I urge you to reinstate him in your affections and reaffirm your love for him.
2 Cor 2:9For this was my purpose in writing, to see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and committed to following my instruction in all things.
2 Cor 2:10If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive [that one]; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of [and with the approval of] Christ,
2 Cor 2:11to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
2 Cor 2:12¶ Now when I arrived at Troas to preach the good news of Christ, even though a door [of opportunity] opened for me in the Lord,
2 Cor 2:13my spirit could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there; so saying goodbye to them, I left for Macedonia.
2 Cor 2:14¶ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
2 Cor 2:15For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which ascends] to God, [discernible both] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
2 Cor 2:16to the latter one an aroma from death to death [a fatal, offensive odor], but to the other an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is adequate and sufficiently qualified for these things?
2 Cor 2:17For we are not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God's word [shortchanging and adulterating God's message]; but from pure [uncompromised] motives, as [commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight of God.