2 Corinthians 2

Forgiveness for the Offender

1 I made up my mind not to come back to you all if it was just going to bring sorrow.

2 If I make you sad, who is going to cheer me up except you all, the ones I made sad,

3 That is why I wrote you, so when I do come, I will not be hurt by those who oughta lift me up. I got confidence that you all bring me joy, just like I bring you joy.

4 I wrote to you with tears, outta pain and a heavy heart, not to hurt you but to show you all how much love I got for you.

5 If anyone is caused grief, they did not just grieve me but all of you to some degree. I do not want to be too harsh here.

6 The punishment by the majority on this dude is enough.

7 Now, instead of keeping him down, forgive and comfort him, or he might get swallowed up by too much sorrow.

8 So I am asking you all to reaffirm your love for him.

9 I wrote to test you all and see if you would be obedient in everything.

10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. And what I have forgiven, if there is anything to forgive, I forgave it in the presence of Christ for your sake.

11 So we do not let Satan outsmart us, because we know his schemes.

Ministers of the New Covenant

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel, the Lord opened a door for me.

13 But I could not rest, because I did not find my brother Titus there, so I said goodbye and went on to Macedonia.

14 Thank God, who always leads us in victory through Christ and makes us smell like the sweet aroma of His knowledge everywhere.

15 We are like God’s fragrance, smelling good to those being saved and to those who are lost.

16 To one, we are a smell of death, but to the other, a scent of life. And who is really up for such a job,

17 Unlike many hustlers out there peddling God’s word, we speak with sincerity, like people sent by God, speaking in Christ.