2Corinthians 2

2So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit.G1161G2919G5124G1683G2064G3361G2064G3825G4314G5209G1722G30772For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved.G1063G1487G1473G3076G5209G3076G5101G2076G2532G2165G3165G2165G1508G3076G1537G17003That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.G2532G1125G5124G846G5213G3363G2064G2192G3077G575G3739G3165G1163G5463G3982G1909G5209G3956G3754G1699G5479G2076G5216G39564I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.G1063G1537G4183G2347G2532G4928G2588G1125G5213G1223G4183G1144G3756G2443G3076G235G2443G1097G26G3739G2192G4056G1519G5209

Forgiveness for the Sinner

5I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me.G1161G1536G3076G3076G3756G3076G1691G235G575G3313G3363G1912G3363G1912G5209G39566Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough.G2425G5108G3778G2009G3588G5259G41197Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.G5620G5121G5209G3123G5483G2532G3870G3381G4458G5108G2666G4055G30778So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.G1352G3870G5209G2964G26G1519G8469I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions.G1063G1519G5124G2532G1125G2443G1097G1382G5216G1487G2075G5255G1519G395610When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit,G1161G3739G5483G5100G1473G2532G2532G1063G1473G5483G1536G3739G5483G1223G5209G1722G4383G554711so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.G3363G5259G4567G4122G1063G3756G50G846G354012When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.G1161G2064G1519G5174G1519G5547G2098G2532G2374G455G3427G1722G296213But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.G2192G3756G425G3450G4151G3165G2147G3361G5103G3450G80G235G657G846G1831G1519G3109

Ministers of the New Covenant

14But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.G1161G5485G2316G3842G2358G2248G2358G1722G5547G2532G5319G3744G846G1108G1223G2257G1722G3956G511715Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.G3754G2070G2316G2175G5547G1722G4982G2532G1722G62216To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?G3739G3303G3744G2288G1519G2288G1161G3739G3744G2222G1519G2222G2532G5101G2425G4314G502317You see, we are not like the many hucksters

who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.G1063G2070G3756G5613G4183G2585G3056G2316G235G5613G1537G1505G235G5613G1537G2316G2714G2316G2980G1722G5547