2 Corinthians 2

New King James Version

Paul Urges Forgiveness

2 But I determined this within myself,^(A)that I would not come again to you in sorrow.² For if I make you^(B)sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came,^(C)I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy,^(D)having confidence in you all that my joy isthe joyof you all.⁴ For out of much^[a]affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears,^(E)not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

⁵ But^(F)if anyone has caused grief, he has not^(G)grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.⁶ This punishment whichwas inflicted^(H)by the majorityissufficient for such a man,^7 (I)so that, on the contrary, yououghtrather to forgive and comforthim, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirmyourlove to him.⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are^(J)obedient in all things.¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I alsoforgive. For^[b]if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Triumph in Christ

¹² Furthermore,^(K)when I came to Troas topreachChrist’s gospel, and^(L)a^[c]door was opened to me by the Lord,^13 (M)I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

¹⁴ Now thanksbeto God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us^[d]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ^(N)among those who are being saved and^(O)among those who are perishing.^16 (P)To the onewe arethe aroma of deathleadingto death, and to the other the aroma of lifeleadingto life. And^(Q)whoissufficient for these things?¹⁷ For we are not, as^[e]so many,^(R)peddling^[f]the word of God; but as^(S)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.