2 Corinthians 2 - What does forgiveness thwart? (verse 11)

Why did Paul write as he did? (verse 3)

What was the motivation of Paul's writing? (verse 4, 9)

Interpretation

What inference can be made about Paul's first visit? (verse 1)

Why did Paul write as he did? (verse 1-3)

Forgive the Sinner

What does Paul say about anyone who has caused pain? (verse 5-7)

Why should the one causing pain be forgiven and comforted? (verse 7)

What might they be overwhelmed by if they are not forgiven and comforted? (verse 7)

What should the church do for him who caused pain? (verse 5-8)

Who does Paul also forgive? (verse 10)

If Paul has forgiven anything, who's sake was it for? (verse 10)

Interpretation

What does forgiveness thwart? (verse 5-11)

Who are we not to be outwitted by? (verse 11)

Triumph in Christ

Was Paul's spirit at rest when the door was opened to preach the gospel of Christ in Troas? (verse 12)

What caused Paul's spirit to not be at rest? (verse 13)

What did Paul decide to do when his spirit was not at rest? (verse 13)

Who does Paul give thanks to? (verse 14)

How are we lead by God? (verse 14)

Who is the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing? (verse 15)

What is the fragrance as described in verse 15-17?

Application

 (be) men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God, speak in Christ - verse 17

(do not be) For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word

Thoughts

or if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? -verse 2

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. - verse 14

Exodus 30:7 

And Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it. Every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it,

Luke 11:34 

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.

to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? - verse 16

2 Corinthians 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

Forgive the Sinner

5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Triumph in Christ

12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.