2 Corinthians 1:11-2:12 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

¹¹ while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our^[a] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.

A Clear Conscience

¹² Indeed, this is our boast: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with godly sincerity and purity, not by human wisdom but by God’s grace. ¹³ For we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— ¹⁴ just as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride, just as you also are ours in the day of our^[b] Lord Jesus.

A Visit Postponed

¹⁵ Because of this confidence, I planned to come to you first, so that you could have a second benefit,^{[c] 16} and to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then come to you again from Macedonia and be helped by you on my journey to Judea. ¹⁷ Now when I planned this, was I of two minds? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human^[d] way so that I say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? ¹⁸ As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.” ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus,^[e] Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” ²⁰ For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. ²¹ Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. ²² He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

²³ I call on God as a witness, on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth. ²⁴ I do not mean that we lord it over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in your faith.

2 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit.^{[f] 2} For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me?^{[g] 3} I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours. ⁴ For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.

A Sinner Forgiven

⁵ If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you. ⁶ This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. ⁷ As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. ⁸ Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. ¹⁰ Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

A Trip to Macedonia

¹² When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me,