1 But I determined this 1Or as far as I am concernedfor my own sake, that I A1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 12:21would not come to you in sorrow again. 2 For if I A2 Cor 7:8cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? 3 This is the very thing I A2 Cor 2:9; 7:8, 12wrote you, so that B1 Cor 4:21; 2 Cor 12:21when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having CGal 5:10; 2 Thess 3:4; Philem 21confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I A2 Cor 2:9; 7:8, 12wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

5 But A1 Cor 5:1fif any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—1Lit so that I not be burdensomein order not to say too much—to all of you. 6 Sufficient for such a one is A1 Cor 5:4f; 2 Cor 7:11this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, 7 so that on the contrary you should rather AGal 6:1; Eph 4:32forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For to this end also A2 Cor 2:3fI wrote, so that I might 1Lit know the proof of youB2 Cor 8:2; Phil 2:22put you to the test, whether you are C2 Cor 7:15; 10:6obedient in all things. 10 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes A1 Cor 5:4; 2 Cor 4:6in the presence of Christ, 11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by AMatt 4:10Satan, for BLuke 22:31; 2 Cor 4:4; 1 Pet 5:8we are not ignorant of his schemes.

12 Now when I came to AActs 16:8Troas for the BRom 1:1; 2 Cor 4:3, 4; 8:18; 9:13; 10:14; 11:4, 7; 1 Thess 3:2gospel of Christ and when a CActs 14:27door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 I A2 Cor 7:5had no rest for my spirit, not finding B2 Cor 7:6, 13f; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18; Gal 2:1, 3; 2 Tim 4:10; Titus 1:4Titus my brother; but CMark 6:46taking my leave of them, I went on to DRom 15:26Macedonia.

14 ARom 1:8; 6:17; 1 Cor 15:57; 2 Cor 8:16; 9:15But thanks be to God, who always BCol 2:15leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the CSong 1:3; Ezek 20:41; Eph 5:2; Phil 4:18sweet aroma of the D1 Cor 12:8knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a ASong 1:3; Ezek 20:41; Eph 5:2; Phil 4:18fragrance of Christ to God among B1 Cor 1:18those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; 16 ALuke 2:34; John 9:39; 1 Pet 2:7fto the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is B2 Cor 3:5fadequate for these things? 17 For we are not like many, 1Or corruptingA2 Cor 4:2; Gal 1:6-9peddling the word of God, but B1 Cor 5:8; 2 Cor 1:12; 1 Thess 2:4; 1 Pet 4:11as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ C2 Cor 12:19in the sight of God.