For I Did Not Want My Coming To Cause You Grief, So I Wrote To You Instead
2 For I determined this for myself: not to come to you again[a] in grief. 2 For if I grieve you, who indeed is the one cheering me except the one being grieved by me? 3 And I wrote this very[b] thing in order that having come, I should not have grief from the ones of whom I ought-to-have rejoicing— having confidence in you all that my joy[c] is the joy of you all.
I Wrote To You In Anguish Not To Grieve You, But Out of Love For You
4 For I wrote to you through many tears, out of much affliction and anguish of heart— not that you might be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. 5 But[d] if anyone has caused-grief, he has grieved not me, but in part[e] (that I not be a burden[f]), you all. 6 This[g] punishment by the majority is sufficient[h] for such a one, 7 so that on-the-contrary[i], instead you should forgive and comfort him, that such a one should not somehow be swallowed-up by more grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to confirm[j] your love for him.
I Also Wrote To Test Your Obedience To God
9 For I also wrote for this purpose: that I might know your approvedness, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 And to whom you are forgiving anything, I also. For indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, is for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 in order that we may not be exploited by Satan. For we are not unaware as to his schemes.
So Instead I Went To Macedonia First To Find Titus
12 Now[k] having come to Troas for the good-news of Christ, and a door having been opened for me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit at my not finding Titus my brother. But having said-goodbye to them, I went forth to Macedonia.
I Praise God That He Is Always Spreading The Aroma of Christ Through Us Everywhere
14 But thanks be to God, the One always leading us in triumph[l] in Christ, and making the aroma of [m] the knowledge of Him known through us in every place. 15 Because we are the fragrance of Christ for[n] God among the ones being saved, and among the ones perishing— 16 to the ones an aroma from death to[o] death, but to the others an aroma from life to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not like the many peddling[p] the word of God. But as from purity, but as from God, we are speaking in Christ before God.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 2:1 That is, come again; or, in grief again, implying a previous sorrowful interaction (whether in person, or by the letter mentioned in 2:4; 7:8).
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 That is, this change of plans; or, my grief-causing letter.
- 2 Corinthians 2:3 That is, obedience to Christ.
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 Paul pauses to comment on the case about which he wrote them in order to avoid coming to them and causing more grief.
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 That is, partially (as to some of you, or some of the grief); or, to some degree.
- 2 Corinthians 2:5 Or, weigh-heavily. That is, exaggerate the extent of the grief; or, burden him (by blaming him for everything); or, burden you (by detailing the matter).
- 2 Corinthians 2:6 That is, this grief-causing punishment; or, this punishment about which Titus informed me upon his arrival, 7:6-13.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6 Or, adequate, enough. That is, because it led to repentance.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7 That is, contrary to punishing him further or more harshly.
- 2 Corinthians 2:8 That is, publicly affirm.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 Moving on from his aborted plans, Paul summarizes his travels before he met Titus returning from Corinth, with which he resumes in 7:4 after the lengthy reflection on his ministry in 2:14-7:4.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 That is, in a triumphal procession.
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 That is, consisting of.
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or, to.
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 That is, originating in death and resulting in death; or, from Christ’s death to their death.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 That is, selling it for personal gain.