New Testament
2 Corinthians 2
Overview
Paul continues explaining his decision not to revisit Corinth: he made up his mind not to come again "in sorrow," since causing them pain would deprive him of the very joy they share (2:1-4). His severe letter was written "out of much affliction and anguish of heart" and "with many tears," not to grieve them but to prove his abundant love. He then turns to a specific offender whose discipline the church has carried out; now Paul urges them to forgive and comfort the man, lest he be "overwhelmed by excessive sorrow," and to reaffirm their love—forgiving as Paul forgives, so that Satan may not outwit them (2:5-11). Paul recounts his own restlessness: arriving in Troas with an open door for the gospel, he found no peace because Titus was absent with news of Corinth, so he pressed on to Macedonia (2:12-13). The chapter erupts into a triumphant doxology: God always leads believers in Christ's triumphal procession, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him—an aroma of life to the saved and of death to the perishing (2:14-17).
1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
3And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him , and comfort him , lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it , for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.