Delivered from Suffering

8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of jour 3trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should knot trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 lwho delivered us from so great a death, and 4does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also mhelping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on 5our behalf nfor the gift granted to us through many.

Paul’s Sincerity

12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in 6simplicity and ogodly sincerity, pnot with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you. 13 For we are not writing any other things to you than what you read or understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to the end 14 (as also you have understood us in part), qthat we are your boast as ryou also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Sparing the Church

15 And in this confidence sI intended to come to you before, that you might have ta second benefit—16 to pass by way of you to Macedonia, uto come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. 17 Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan vaccording to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? 18 But as God is wfaithful, our 7word to you was not Yes and No. 19 For xthe Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, ySilvanus, and zTimothy—was not Yes and No, abut in Him was Yes. 20 bFor all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and chas anointed us is God, 22 who dalso has sealed us and egiven us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

23 Moreover fI call God as witness against my soul, gthat to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not hthat we 8have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for iby faith you stand.

2 But I determined this within myself, athat I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you bsorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, cI should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, dhaving confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all. 4 For out of much 1affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, enot that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

5 But fif anyone has caused grief, he has not ggrieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted hby the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 iso that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are jobedient in all things. 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For 2if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.