The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

So I decided for my own part that I would not again come to you in painful circumstances.

If I caused you pain, who could cheer me up but the very one who was hurt by me?

I wrote as I did in order that when I came to you I might not be hurt by those who should have made me rejoice. I have confidence about all of you that my joy is the same joy you all have.

For I wrote to you from great affliction, with anguish of heart, and with many tears. I did not want to cause you pain. Instead, I wanted you to know the depth of the love that I have for you.

If anyone has caused pain, he has not caused it only to me, but in some measure-not to put it too harshly-to all of you.

This punishment of that person by the majority is enough.

So now rather than punishment, you should forgive and comfort him. Do this so that he is not overwhelmed by too much sorrow.

So I encourage you to publicly affirm your love for him.

This was the reason I wrote, so that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything.

If you forgive anyone, I forgive that person as well. What I have forgiven-if I have forgiven anything-it is forgiven for your sake in the presence of Christ.

This is so that Satan will not trick us. For we are not ignorant of his plans.

Triumph in Christ

A door was opened to me by the Lord when I came to the city of Troas to preach the gospel of Christ there.

Even so, I had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I left them and returned to Macedonia.

But may thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph. Through us he spreads the sweet aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ, both among those who are saved and among those who are perishing.

To the people who are perishing, it is an aroma from death to death. To the ones being saved, it is an aroma from life to life. Who is worthy of these things?

For we are not like so many people who sell the word of God for profit. Instead, with purity of motives, we speak in Christ, as we are sent from God, in the sight of God.

But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.

For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me?

And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be shared by all of you.

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that you should be made to grieve, but that you might know the love that I have so abundantly for you.

But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in part (that I not press too heavily) to you all.

This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one;

so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow.

Therefore I beg you to confirm your love toward him.

For to this end I also wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether you are obedient in all things.

Now I also forgive whomever you forgive anything. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

Triumph in Christ

Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord,

I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia.

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place.

For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are saved and in those who perish:

to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.