1But I determined this with myself , that I would not come again to you in heaviness . 2For if I make you sorry , who is he then that maketh me glad , but the same which is made sorry by me ? 3And I wrote this same unto you , lest , when I came , I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice ; having confidence in you all , that my joy is the joy of you all . 4For 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 the love which I have more abundantly unto you .
The Importance of Unity and Love
5But if any have caused grief , he hath not grieved me , but in part : that I may not overcharge you all . 6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment , which was inflicted of many . 7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him , and comfort him , lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow . 8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him . 9For to this end also did I write , that I might know the proof of you , whether ye be obedient in all things . 10To whom ye forgive any thing , I forgive also : for if I forgave any thing , to whom I forgave it , for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ ; 11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices .
The Triumph of Christ
12Furthermore , when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel , and a door was opened unto me of the Lord , 13I had no rest in my spirit , because I found not Titus my brother : but taking my leave of them , I went from thence into Macedonia . 14Now thanks be unto God , which always causeth us to triumph in Christ , and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place . 15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ , in them that are saved , and in them that perish : 16To 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 ? 17For we are not as many , which corrupt the word of God : but as of sincerity , but as of God , in the sight of God speak we in Christ .