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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2 Corinthians 2: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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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