¹ For I have decided this for myself, not to come to you again in sorrow.

² For if I cause you sorrow, then who will make me glad except the one who is caused to be sad by me?

³ And I wrote this very thing in order that when I¹ came, I would not experience sorrow from those who ought to have made me glad, because I² have confidence about you all, that my joy ⌞belongs to all of you⌟³.

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
2. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have confidence”) which is understood as causal
3. Literally “is of all of you”

⁴ For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you through many tears, not so that you may be caused to be sad, but so that you may know the love that I have especially for you.

Forgive and Comfort the Offender

⁵ But if anyone has caused sorrow, he has not caused me sorrow, but ⌞to some degree⌟¹—⌞in order not to say too much⌟²—to all of you.

1. Literally “in part”
2. Literally “in order not to burden”

⁶ This punishment by the majority is sufficient for such a person.

⁷ So then, you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow this person should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

⁸ Therefore I urge you to confirm your love for him.

⁹ Because for this reason also I wrote, in order that I could know your proven character, whether you are obedient in everything.

¹⁰ Now to whomever you forgive anything, I also do; for indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, it is ⌞for your sake⌟¹ in the presence of Christ,

1. Literally “for the sake of you”

¹¹ in order that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes).

Triumphant Ministry in Christ

¹² Now when I¹ arrived in Troas for the gospel of Christ and a door was opened for me by the Lord,

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“arrived”) which is understood as temporal

¹³ I did not experience rest in my spirit, because¹ I did not find Titus my brother, but saying farewell to them, I departed for Macedonia.

1. This infinitive (“find”) is understood as causal

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ, and who reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of him through us in every place.

¹⁵ For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

¹⁶ to those on the one hand an odor from death to death, and to those on the other hand a fragrance from life to life. And who is qualified for these things?

¹⁷ For we are not like the majority who peddle the word of God, but as from pure motives—but as from God—we speak before God in Christ.