2 Corinthians 2
2
Reaffirm Your Love
1But I made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful visit. 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? 3And I #2:3 Many scholars believe the contents of the communication to which Paul refers in this verse are implied within vv 5-11, and again in 7:5-12.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. 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.
5But if #2:5 The incident and offender to which Paul is referring is unclear, but it may have involved some affront or challenge to Paul’s position or authority during his visit to Corinth.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. 6For such a one this punishment by the majority is sufficient, 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. 8Therefore I urge you to reinstate him in your affections and reaffirm your #2:8 The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for other believers.love for him. 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. 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, 11to keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
12Now when I arrived at Troas to preach the good news of Christ, even though a door [of opportunity] opened for me in the Lord, 13my spirit could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there; so saying goodbye to them, I left for Macedonia.
14But 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. 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; 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? 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.
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2 Corinthians 2
2
1But I determined this with myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.
2For if I make you sorrowful, who is he then that can make me glad, but the same who is made sorrowful by me?
3And I wrote this same to you; that I may not, when I come, have sorrow upon 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 to you with many tears: not that you should be made sorrowful: but that you might know the charity I have more abundantly towards you.
5And if any one have caused grief, he hath not grieved me; but in part, that I may not burden you all.
6To him who is such a one, this rebuke is sufficient, which is given by many:
7So that on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8Wherefore, I beseech you, that you would confirm your charity towards him.
9For to this end also did I write, that I may know the experiment of you, whether you be obedient in all things.
10And to whom you have pardoned any thing, I also. For, what I have pardoned, if I have pardoned any thing, for your sakes have I done it in the person of Christ.
11That we be not overreached by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his devices.
12And when I was come to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened unto me in the Lord,
13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother; but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.
14Now thanks be to God, who always maketh us to triumph in Christ Jesus, and manifesteth the odour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15For we are the good odour of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.
16To the one indeed the odour of death unto death: but to the others the odour of life unto life. And for these things who is so sufficient?
17For we are not as many, adulterating the word of God; but with sincerity, but as from God, before God, in Christ we speak.
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