Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

II Corinthians 2

• Forgive and Triumph

Paul Urges Forgiveness

II Corinthians 2:¹ But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow.

II Corinthians 2:² For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?

Forgive the Offender

II Corinthians 2:³ And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.

II Corinthians 2:⁴ For out of much affliction (tribulation) and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

II Corinthians 2:⁵ But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.

II Corinthians 2:⁶ This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man,

II Corinthians 2:⁷ so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

II Corinthians 2:⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

II Corinthians 2:⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

• Concerning obedience: never put a question mark where God has put a period.

II Corinthians 2:¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes (indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes) in the presence of Christ,

II Corinthians 2:¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

• The “devices” of Satan:
  
  • Promises of Pleasures which end in destruction
  • Questioned Authorities
  • Redefine the Meanings of Words
  • Fears that focus on the worse instead of the best
  • To break the bonds of relationships:
    
    • Between the Trinity.
      
      (Cords of authority- Psalm 2:3, Jesus tempted in the wilderness to disobey the Father – Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4, Let this cup pass from me – Matthew 26:42, Why have You forsaken Me? Mark 15:34)
      
    • Marriages.
      
      (Luke 16:18, Matthew 19:8, Your desire shall be for your husband (ie: you the wife wants to please him), And (BUT) he shall rule over you (you can’t please him).”
      (Those Thorns in Genesis 3 – are symbolic of curses. – Adam must fight against them but the wife must fight against him because he was made from the ground which was cursed.) Marriage becomes painful.
      
    • Governments.
      
      Wars and Wars and rumors of Wars.
      
    • Believers.
      
      I John 4:11 Love one another.

Triumph in Christ

II Corinthians 2:¹² Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door (an Opportunity) was opened to me by the Lord,

II Corinthians 2:¹³ I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia.

• Macedonia, modern day Greece.

II Corinthians 2:¹⁴ Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses (manifests) the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

II Corinthians 2:¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

• The fragrance of Christ is the perfume of crushed flowers but weeds are burnt in an oven.

II Corinthians 2:¹⁶ To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

II Corinthians 2:¹⁷ For we are not, as so many (the rest), peddling (adulterating for gain) the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.