2 Corinthians 2
2
1So I decided that, for my own sake, I wouldn’t visit you again while I was upset. 2If I make you sad, who will be there to make me glad when you are sad because of me?
Paul’s former letter
3That’s why I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I wouldn’t be made sad by the ones who ought to make me happy. I have confidence in you, that my happiness means your happiness. 4I wrote to you in tears, with a very troubled and anxious heart. I didn’t write to make you sad but so you would know the overwhelming love that I have for you.
5But if someone has made anyone sad, that person hasn’t hurt me but all of you to some degree (not to exaggerate). 6The punishment handed out by the majority is enough for this person. 7This is why you should try your best to forgive and to comfort this person now instead, so that this person isn’t overwhelmed by too much sorrow. 8So I encourage you to show your love for this person.
9This is another reason why I wrote you. I wanted to test you and see if you are obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone for anything, I do too. And whatever I’ve forgiven (if I’ve forgiven anything), I did it for you in the presence of Christ. 11This is so that we won’t be taken advantage of by Satan, because we are well aware of his schemes.
Paul’s ministry
12When I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, the Lord gave me an opportunity to preach. 13But I was worried because I couldn’t find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and went on to Macedonia.
14But thank God, who is always leading us around through Christ as if we were in a parade. He releases the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere through us. 15We smell like the aroma of Christ’s offering to God, both to those who are being saved and to those who are on the road to destruction. 16We smell like a contagious dead person to those who are dying, but we smell like the fountain of life to those who are being saved.
Who is qualified for this kind of ministry? 17We aren’t like so many people who hustle the word of God to make a profit. We are speaking through Christ in the presence of God, as those who are sincere and as those who are sent from God.
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2 Corinthians 2: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
2 Corinthians 2
2
1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2If I make you sad, who is going to make me glad? Only you, the people I made sad. 3What I wrote to you I wrote for a special reason. When I came, I didn’t want to be troubled by those who should make me glad. I was sure that all of you would share my joy. 4I was very troubled when I wrote to you. My heart was sad. My eyes were full of tears. I didn’t want to make you sad. I wanted to let you know that I love you very deeply.
Forgive Those Who Make You Sad
5Suppose someone has made us sad. In some ways, he hasn’t made me sad so much as he has made all of you sad. But I don’t want to put this too strongly. 6He has been punished because most of you decided he should be. This punishment is enough. 7Now you should forgive him and comfort him. Then he won’t be sad more than he can stand. 8So I’m asking you to tell him again that you still love him. 9I wrote to you for another special reason. I wanted to see if you could stand the test. I wanted to see if you could obey everything asked of you. 10Anyone you forgive I also forgive. Was there anything to forgive? If so, I have forgiven it for your benefit, knowing that Christ is watching. 11We don’t want Satan to outsmart us. We know how he does his evil work.
Serving Under the New Covenant
12I went to Troas to preach the good news about Christ. There I found that the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me. 13But I still had no peace of mind. I couldn’t find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to the believers at Troas and went on to Macedonia.
14Give thanks to God! He always leads us as if we were prisoners in Christ’s victory parade. Through us, God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere like perfume. 15God considers us to be the pleasing smell that Christ is spreading. He is spreading it among people who are being saved and people who are dying. 16To those who are dying, we are the smell of death. To those who are being saved, we are the perfume of life. Who is able to do this work? 17Unlike many people, we aren’t selling God’s word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.
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