2 Corinthians 2 WBT
Summary: Paul explains that he deliberately avoided a second painful visit to Corinth, choosing instead to write a difficult letter so as not to bring more sorrow, out of his abundant love for them. He addresses an offender (likely tied to that earlier painful episode) whom the majority had already punished, now urging the church to forgive and comfort him so he is not overwhelmed by excessive sorrow, reaffirming their love for him. Paul recalls his own anxiety in Troas while waiting for Titus's news, and closes with thanksgiving that in Christ, God "spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him... we are the aroma of Christ" (v. 14-15) to both the saved and the perishing.
1But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same who is made sorry by me?
3And I wrote this same to you, lest, coming I should have sorrow from them by whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all.
4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly to you.
5But if any hath caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.
6Sufficient to such a man [is] this punishment, which [was inflicted] by many.
7So that on the other hand, ye [ought] rather to forgive [him], and comfort [him], lest perhaps such one should be swallowed up with excessive sorrow.
8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm [your] love towards him.
9For to this end also I wrote, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.
10To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [I forgave it], in the person of Christ;
11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
12Furthermore, when I came to Troas to [preach] the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me by the Lord,
13I 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.
14Now thanks [be] to God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place.
15For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16To the one [we are] the savor of death to death; and to the other the savor of life to life. And who [is] sufficient for these things?
17For we are not as many, who corrupt the word of God: but as from sincerity, but as from God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
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