2 Corinthians 2

1 So I made up my mind [determined this for myself, decided] not to make another [further, additional] painful [sorrowful, grievous] visit [come again, return] to you [in your presence, with you]. word study 2 For [as a reason, to explain] if I [personally, as an apostle] grieve [cause sorrow, make sad] you, who [which one, what person] is left [remains, is available] to cheer [gladden, make happy] me but [except, unless] those [the ones, they] whom [who, which ones] I [myself, personally] have grieved [caused sorrow, made sad]? word study 3 I wrote [in this manner, for this purpose] as I did so that on my arrival I would not be saddened [grieved, experience sorrow] by those who ought to make me rejoice [experience joy, be glad]. I had confidence [faith, trust] in all of you, that you would share [participate in, have a part in] my joy [happiness, delight]. word study 4 For through [out from, originating from] many tears I wrote you out of great [much, abundant] distress [pressure, tribulation] and anguish [deep sorrow, anxiety] of heart, not to grieve [cause sadness, sorrow] you but to let you know [understand, perceive] how much [exceedingly, abundantly] I love [have unconditional affection for] you. word study 5 Now if anyone [a person, someone] has caused grief [sorrow, sadness], he has not grieved [caused sorrow to] me but all of you [in part]—to some degree [partly, not entirely], not to overstate it [lest I burden you]. word study 6 The punishment [rebuke, discipline] imposed on him by the majority [many, nearly all of you] is sufficient [enough, competent] for him [such a one, a person of this kind]. word study 7 So instead [on the contrary, to the opposite effect], you ought to forgive [to give grace, show kindness] and comfort [to plead with, bring solace to] him, so that he will not be overwhelmed [swallowed up, consumed] by excessive [overmuch, superior in quantity] sorrow [grief, sadness]. word study 8 Therefore [for this reason, because of this] I urge [plead with, comfort] you to reaffirm [confirm, make clear] your love [unconditional affection, charity] for him [toward this person, into his life]. word study 9 My purpose [goal, intention] in writing [to record, to communicate] you was to see [to know, to understand] if you would stand the test [prove yourselves, be approved] and be obedient [submissive, compliant] in everything [all things, every matter]. word study 10 If you forgive [pardon, show kindness to] anyone, I also forgive [give grace to, pardon] him. And if I have forgiven [given grace, shown mercy to] anything, I have forgiven [pardoned, given grace to] it in the presence [face, countenance] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] for your sake [because of you, on your behalf], word study 11 in order that [to prevent, lest] Satan [the adversary, accuser] should not [under any circumstances] outwit [take advantage of, exploit] us [deceive, overreach]. For [because, since] we are not [totally] unaware [ignorant, lacking knowledge] of his [Satan’s, the enemy’s] schemes [devices, plans, mind, thoughts]. word study 12 Now when I went [came, arrived] to Troas [a city in Asia Minor] to preach [proclaim, spread] the gospel [good news, message of salvation] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] and a door [opportunity, entrance] stood open [was opened, had been opened] for me [to me, in my favor] in the Lord [through God’s provision, by His grace], word study 13 I had [no rest, no relief] no peace in my spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition of a person], because I did not find [discover, meet] my brother [fellow Christian, male sibling] Titus there [in that place]. So I said goodbye [took my leave, departed] to them and went on [out, forth] to Macedonia [a region in Greece, an important area in the early Christian church]. word study 14 But thanks be to God [the supreme deity, our heavenly Father], who always [at all times, constantly] leads us triumphantly [in a victory parade, as captives set free] as captives [prisoners of war, those held in bondage] in Christ [the Anointed One, our Savior] and through us spreads everywhere [in every place, to all people] the fragrance [a sweet aroma, a pleasing scent] of the knowledge [understanding, spiritual insight] of Him [the divine Person, our Lord]. word study 15 For we are [like a fragrance] to God [the supreme Creator] the sweet aroma [a pleasant smell] of Christ [the Anointed One] among those who are being saved [delivered from harm] and those who are perishing [completely destroyed]. word study 16 To the one, we are an odor [a stench, a smell of decay] of death [physical or spiritual separation from God] and demise [eternal destruction]; to the other, a fragrance [a sweet aroma, a perfume] that brings life [eternal existence with God, spiritual vitality]. And who is qualified [sufficient, competent] for such a task [important work, divine assignment]? word study 17 For we are not like so many others [corrupting the word of God], who peddle [trade in, adulterate] the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the one true deity] for profit [personal gain]. On the contrary [but rather], in Christ [the anointed Messiah] we speak [utter words, proclaim] before [in the presence of] God [the Almighty] with sincerity [purity of heart, genuine intention], as men [servants, messengers] sent from God [the heavenly Father]. word study