2 Corinthians

The second epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

1 So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2 For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. 4 For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you. 5 But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. 6 This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 7 so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him - for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). 12 Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the LORD had opened a door of opportunity for me, 13 I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.

Apostolic Ministry

14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing - 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

King James Version

   1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
   2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
   3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
   4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
   5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
   6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
   7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
   8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
   9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
   10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
   11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
   12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
   13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
   14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
   15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
   16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
   17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.