2 Corinthians 2 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

2 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.[a] 2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?[b] 3 I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident(A) about all of you that my joy will also be yours. 4 For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate(B)—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive(C) and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your character(D) to see if you are obedient(E) in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be taken advantage(F) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

12 When I came to Troas(G) to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door(H) for me, 13 I had no rest(I) in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus.(J) Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.(K)

A Ministry of Life or Death

14 But thanks be to God,(L) who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.(M) 15 For to God we are the fragrance(N) of Christ among those who are being saved(O) and among those who are perishing.(P) 16 To some we are an aroma of death(Q) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life(R) leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God(S) for profit like so many.[c] On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.

Footnotes

  1. 2:1 Lit not again in sorrow to come to you
  2. 2:2 Lit the one pained
  3. 2:17 Other mss read like the rest

Cross references

  1. 2:3 : Php 1:25
  2. 2:5 : 2Th 3:8
  3. 2:7 : Mt 6:12
  4. 2:9 : Rm 5:4
  5. 2:9 : Php 2:8
  6. 2:11 : 2Co 12:17
  7. 2:12 : Ac 16:8
  8. 2:12 : Col 4:3
  9. 2:13 : 2Th 1:7
  10. 2:13 : Ti 1:4
  11. 2:13 : Ac 16:9
  12. 2:14 : 1Co 15:57
  13. 2:14 : Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8
  14. 2:15 : Eph 5:2; Php 4:18
  15. 2:15 : Mt 9:22; Ac 16:30; Eph 2:8
  16. 2:15 : Jn 6:27
  17. 2:16 : Mt 10:21; Jn 8:51; Php 3:10
  18. 2:16 : 1Jn 5:12
  19. 2:17 : Mt 12:36; Mk 4:14; Lk 6:47; 8:21; Jn 1:1; 2:22; 18:32; Ac 17:11; 2Tm 2:15; Heb 4:12

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2 Corinthians 2 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 And I decided this to myself, not again to come in sorrow unto you, 2 for if I make you sorry, then who is he who is making me glad, except he who is made sorry by me? 3 and I wrote to you this same thing, that having come, I may not have sorrow from them of whom it behoved me to have joy, having ...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

2 And I ordained this [same] thing at me, that I should not come again in heaviness to you [in sorrow to you]. 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he that gladdeth me, but he that is sorrowful of me? 3 And this same thing I wrote to you, that when I come, I have not sorrow on sorrow, of the which it...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

2 I made up my mind that I would not go to visit you again if I had to make you sad. 2 For if I make you sad, who is going to make me glad? No one, but the one I made sad. 3 That is why I wrote the letter. I did not want to come and be made sad by those who should make me glad. I am sure that what m...
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2 Corinthians 2 - World English Bible (WEB)

2 But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow. 2 For if I make you grieve, then who will make me glad but he who is made to grieve by me? 3 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; havi...
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2 Corinthians 2 - The Voice (VOICE)

The believers in Corinth are exhausting Paul and one another with their negativity and criticism. Nothing destroys the beauty of Christian community more aggressively than these kinds of patterns.2 I finally determined that I would not come to you again for yet another agonizing visit. 2 If my visi...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Forgive the Repentant Sinner2 So I made up my mind that I would not come to you again causing sorrow. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, then who is there cheering me on but the one I have made sorrowful? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I wouldn’t have sorrow from those who oug...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

2 1 For I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, t...
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2 Corinthians 2 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

2 But this I determined in myself: that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I grieve you, who then should make me glad but the same one who is grieved by me? 3 And I wrote this same thing to you, lest when I come, I should not be grieved by those in whom I ought to rejoice, having conf...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

2 You see, I settled it in my mind that I wouldn’t make you another sad visit. 2 After all, if I make you sad, who is there to cheer me up except the one who is sad because of me? 3 And I wrote what I did so that I wouldn’t come and find sadness where I should have found joy. I have this confidenc...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

2 1 So I made up my mind not to make another visit that causes you grief.(A)2 For if I cause you grief, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have grieved? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer grief from those who should have made me rejoice, for I am confident a...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

2 1 For by faith you stand. But I determined in myself that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, who is it that should make me glad, but the same who are made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this same epistle to you lest, if I went, I should be made sad by tho...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Living Translation (NLT)

2 So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. 3 That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest jo...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New Life Version (NLV)

2 As I thought about it, I decided I would not come to you again. It would only make you sad. 2 If I make you sad, who is going to make me happy? How can you make me happy if I make you sad? 3 That is why I wrote that letter to you. I did not want to visit you and be made sad by the ones who shoul...
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2 Corinthians 2 - New King James Version (NKJV)

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