2BUT I definitely made up my mind not to grieve you with another painful {and} distressing visit.G1161G2919G5124G1683G2064G3361G2064G3825G4314G5209G1722G30772For if I cause you pain [with merited rebuke], who is there to provide me enjoyment but the [very] one whom I have grieved {and} made sad?G1063G1487G1473G3076G5209G3076G5101G2076G2532G2165G3165G2165G1508G3076G1537G17003And I wrote the same to you so that when I came, I might not be myself pained by those who are the [very] ones who ought to make me glad, for I trusted in you all {and} felt confident that my joy would be shared by all of you.G2532G1125G5124G846G5213G3363G2064G2192G3077G575G3739G3165G1163G5463G3982G1909G5209G3956G3754G1699G5479G2076G5216G39564For I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep distress [with mental torture and anxiety] of heart, [yes, and] with many tears, not to cause you pain but in order to make you realize the overflowing love that I continue increasingly to have for you.G1063G1537G4183G2347G2532G4928G2588G1125G5213G1223G4183G1144G3756G2443G3076G235G2443G1097G26G3739G2192G4056G1519G52095But if someone [the one among you who committed incest] has caused [all this] grief {and} pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure, not to put it too severely, [he has distressed] all of you.G1161G1536G3076G3076G3756G3076G1691G235G575G3313G3363G1912G3363G1912G5209G39566For such a one this censure by the majority [which he has received is] sufficient [punishment].G2425G5108G3778G2009G3588G5259G41197So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn {and} [graciously] forgive and comfort {and} encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow {and} despair.G5620G5121G5209G3123G5483G2532G3870G3381G4458G5108G2666G4055G30778I therefore beg you to reinstate him in your affections {and} assure him of your love for him;G1352G3870G5209G2964G26G1519G8469For this was my purpose in writing you, to test your attitude {and} see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient {and} altogether agreeable [to following my orders] in everything.G1063G1519G5124G2532G1125G2443G1097G1382G5216G1487G2075G5255G1519G395610If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah),G1161G3739G5483G5100G1473G2532G2532G1063G1473G5483G1536G3739G5483G1223G5209G1722G4383G554711To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles {and} intentions.G3363G5259G4567G4122G1063G3756G50G846G354012Now when I arrived at Troas [to preach] the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, a door of opportunity was opened for me in the Lord,G1161G2064G1519G5174G1519G5547G2098G2532G2374G455G3427G1722G296213Yet my spirit could not rest (relax, get relief) because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave from them {and} departed for Macedonia.G2192G3756G425G3450G4151G3165G2147G3361G5103G3450G80G235G657G846G1831G1519G310914But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ's victory] and through us spreads {and} makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,G1161G5485G2316G3842G2358G2248G2358G1722G5547G2532G5319G3744G846G1108G1223G2257G1722G3956G511715For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved {and} among those who are perishing:G3754G2070G2316G2175G5547G1722G4982G2532G1722G62216To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]G3739G3303G3744G2288G1519G2288G1161G3739G3744G2222G1519G2222G2532G5101G2425G4314G502317For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God's Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity {and} the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight {and} presence of God.G1063G2070G3756G5613G4183G2585G3056G2316G235G5613G1537G1505G235G5613G1537G2316G2714G2316G2980G1722G5547
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.
Columbus, OH
