Study Desk

¹In fact, I made up my mind about this:^[a] I would not come to you on another painful visit.^[b]

For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?^[c]

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.

For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

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.

The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person.

As a result, you should instead forgive^(c) and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

I wrote for this purpose: to test your character^(d) to see if you are obedient^(e) in everything.

If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for you in the presence of Christ.

I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage^(f) of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

When I came to Troas^(g) to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door^(h) for me.

I had no rest⁽ⁱ⁾ in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus,^(j) but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.^(k)

But thanks be to God,^(l) who always puts us on display^[d] in Christ^[e] and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.^(m)

For to God we are the fragrance⁽ⁿ⁾ of Christ among those who are being saved^(o) and among those who are perishing.^(p)

To some we are an aroma of death^(q) leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life^(r) leading to life. And who is competent for this?

For we are not like the many^[f] who market God's message^(s) for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.