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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.