1 In fact, I made up my mind about this:I would not come to you on another painful visit.
2 For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?
3 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 confidentabout all of you that my joy will also be yours.
4 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.
A Sinner Forgiven
5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree — not to exaggerate— to all of you.
6 The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person.
7 As a result, you should instead forgiveand comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your characterto see if you are obedientin everything.
10 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.
11 I have done this so that we may not be taken advantageof by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
A Trip to Macedonia
12 When I came to Troasto preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a doorfor me.
13 I had no restin my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus,but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.
A Ministry of Life or Death
14 But thanks be to God,who always puts us on displayin Christand through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
15 For to God we are the fragranceof Christ among those who are being savedand among those who are perishing.
16 To some we are an aroma of deathleading to death, but to others, an aroma of lifeleading to life. And who is competent for this?
17 For we are not like the manywho market God’s messagefor profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/2CO/2-6db660631c99efd97c01afd3efa4ee13.mp3?version_id=72—