1 But I determined this with myself not to come to you again in grief.
2 For if I grieve you, who is he that cheareth me, but he that is grieved by me?
3 And I wrote thus to you, that I might not when I come have grief from those for whom I ought to rejoice; being persuaded concerning you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For from much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not that ye might be grieved, but that ye might know the abundant love which I have toward you.
5 And if any have caused grief, he hath grieved me but in part, that I may not overburden you all.
6 Sufficient for such an one is this punishment inflicted by many.
7 So that on the contrary ye should rather forgive and comfort him, lest such an one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 I beseech you therefore to confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye were obedient in all things.
10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: and if I forgive any thing, to whom I forgive it, it is for your sakes, in the person of Christ.
11 Lest Satan get an advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12 Now when I came to Troas, to preach the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; so taking leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God, who causeth us always to triumph through Christ, and manifesteth by us in every place the odour of his knowledge.
15 For we are to God a sweet odour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To these an odour of death unto death, but to those an odour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
17 For we are not as many, who adulterate the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.