2 Corinthians 2
2
Paul’s Previous Letter
1So until these issues were settled, # 2:1 See 2 Cor. 2:4–11. I decided against paying you another painful visit. # 2:1 Paul implies that he had already paid them one painful visit (1:15–17). 2For if I brought you pain, you would be unable to bring me joy. 3And this was the very point I made in my letter, for I didn’t want to come and find sadness filling the very ones who should give me cheer. But I’m confident that you will do what’s right so that my joyous delight will be yours.
4I wrote you previously sobbing and with a broken heart. # 2:4 Paul is referring here (and in v. 3) not to 1 Corinthians but to a letter he had written them after they received 1 Corinthians and failed to properly respond to what he wrote. This painful letter (see also 7:8) was a reprimand that powerfully impacted them. God has sovereignly chosen that we would not have this painful letter included in the New Testament, but its impact on the Corinthians is noteworthy. See also Prov. 27:6. I was filled with anguish and deep distress. I had no intention of causing you pain but to convey the overwhelming measure of my love for you. 5For the one who has caused me grief has not only grieved me but, to some extent, has caused you all grief as well. 6I believe that your united rebuke # 2:6 The Aramaic can be translated “Your triple rebuke is enough punishment.” has been punishment enough for him. 7Instead of more punishment, what he needs most is your encouragement through your gracious display of forgiveness. 8I beg you to reaffirm your deep love for him.
9You see, I wrote previously in order to see if your hearts would pass the test and if you were willing to follow my counsel in everything. 10If you freely forgive anyone for anything, then I also forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I did so for you before the face of Christ, 11so that we would not be exploited # 2:11 The Aramaic can be translated “so that Satan will not overtake us.” by the adversary, Satan, for we know his clever schemes.
12When I arrived at Troas, bringing the wonderful news of Christ, the Lord opened a great door of opportunity to minister there. 13Still, I had no peace of mind, because I couldn’t find my dear brother Titus # 2:13 Titus was a spiritual son to Paul whom he greatly loved. This is the Titus Paul wrote his letter to (book of Titus). He was responsible to collect and distribute an offering for the church in Jerusalem (2 Cor. 8:6). It is possible that Titus was the one who carried the painful letter to Corinth. After finding Titus in Macedonia, Paul sent him back to Corinth to deliver this letter. anywhere. So after saying goodbye to the believers, I set out for Macedonia to look for him.
Apostolic Ministry
14God always makes his grace visible # 2:14 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “Thanks be to God.” in Christ, who includes us as partners of his endless triumph. # 2:14 Or “who always leads us as captives in his triumphant procession.” This difficult-to-translate passage may be an allusion to the Roman victory procession in celebration of their military triumphs. See also Col. 2:15. Through our yielded lives he spreads # 2:14 Or “manifests.” the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. 15We # 2:15 Although this is true of every believer, Paul, throughout this section, uses “we” in reference to apostles. have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God # 2:15 Or “We are Christ’s sweet fragrance [of sacrifice] that ascends to God.” —a perfume of life to those being saved and the odor of death # 2:15 That is, a sacrifice ready to be offered. to those who are perishing. 16The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the life-giving aroma that leads to abundant life. And who of us can rise to this challenge? # 2:16 As challenging as our ministry may be, God empowers us to overcome by his Holy Spirit. He empowers everyone he calls. 17For unlike so many, we are not peddlers # 2:17 The Greek word kapēleuō (a hapax legomenon) means “retailer,” but in classical Greek it comes with a negative connotation (“one who sells at an illegitimate profit”). The adverbial form of the noun is “cheating” or “deceitful.” of God’s Word who water down the message. We are those sent from God with pure motives, who speak in the sight of God # 2:17 Paul states that his ministry of teaching and preaching happened while he was in the presence of God. His eyes were set on God, not on the people’s response. from our union with Christ.
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Learn More About The Passion Translation2 Corinthians 2
2
1So I decided that my next visit to you would not be another visit to make you sad. 2If I make you sad, who will make me happy? Only you can make me happy—you whom I made sad. 3I wrote you a letter for this reason: that when I came to you I would not be made sad by the people who should make me happy. I felt sure of all of you. I felt sure that you would share my joy. 4When I wrote to you before, I was very troubled and unhappy in my heart. I wrote with many tears. I did not write to make you sad, but to let you know how much I love you.
Forgive the Sinner
5Someone there among you has caused sadness. He caused this not to me, but to all of you—I mean he caused sadness to all in some way. (I do not want to make it sound worse than it really is.) 6The punishment that most of you gave him is enough for him. 7But now you should forgive him and comfort him. This will keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely. 8So I beg you to show him that you love him. 9This is why I wrote to you. I wanted to test you and see if you obey in everything. 10If you forgive someone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if I had anything to forgive—I forgave it for you, and Christ was with me. 11I did this so that Satan would not win anything from us. We know very well what Satan’s plans are.
Paul’s Concern in Troas
12I went to Troas to preach the Good News of Christ. The Lord gave me a good opportunity there. 13But I had no peace because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye and went to Macedonia.
Victory Through Christ
14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. 15Our offering to God is this: We are the sweet smell of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. 16To those who are lost, we are the smell of death that brings death. But to those who are being saved, we are the smell of life that brings life. So who is able to do this work? 17We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God. We speak as men sent from God.
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