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
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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