Bible ~~- Newer Testament ~~- 2nd Corinthians ~~- chapter 2 of 13 (17 verses.)

2nd Corinthians 2Wrench

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Believers Are Supposed To Cheer Each Other Up
1 So I decided to skip my planned visit [since my rebukes would be too] painful for you [Corinthian believers to accept].
2 For if I made you sad, πŸ˜‡, how could you cheer me up?
Forgive And Restore Repentant Sinners
3 So I wrote you [the β€˜first Corinthian letter’ to get the unpleasant rebukes said in print] instead of coming [in person] and making you depressed. When you get sad, πŸ˜‡, I get sad. Just like when I get sad, it makes you sad.
4 I wrote you, πŸ˜‡, out of deep distress and anguish of heart. I poured my tears on the pages, not to make you grieve, but to let you feel the love and concern that flood my heart for you.
5 Literally, I say that the [fornicator] who caused all the trouble hurt your entire Ekklesia more than he hurt me.
6 He was punished enough when the majority of you [believers] united to [excommunicate] him.
7 So now you should do the opposite: forgive [the repenter]. Encourage him; comfort him, πŸ˜‡. Otherwise the [ex-sinner] might get swallowed up in overwhelming depression.
8 So, πŸ˜‡, I urge you to show that you really do love [the repentant sinner].
9 The reason I wrote [those tough instructions in my 1st Corinthian letter] was to see if you, πŸ˜‡, would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey [proper leadership].
10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. Insofar as I have anything [personally] to forgive, in the presence of the Messiah, I do forgive [the repenter].
11 [Forgive as soon as possible, πŸ˜‡.] That way the Adversary won't take advantage of [your unforgiveness]. For we [disciples] stand fully aware of [the devil's] schemes!
Unforgiveness is a primary root of demonic power into our lives.
Paul Explains Why He Went To Macedonia
12 The Adonai [YHVH] opened a door for me, πŸ˜‡. So I [hiked] to the plain of Troy to herald [the] Messiah's gospel.
YAH opens the doors. We just have to walk through them.
13 My spirit was restless, because I didn't find my [Christian] brother Titus. So, πŸ˜‡, I said good-bye to the [believers in Troy]. Then [I hiked] on to Macedonia {Northern-Greece}.
YAH Spreads Us Around The Globe Like Perfume
14 But thank [YHVH] the Eloah, πŸ˜‡. [He] always causes us to triumph through [our connection to the] Messiah. [He] spreads us [believers] around the globe like a lovely perfume. [When people sniff YAH's fragrance in us, they get to] know [YAH].
15 For [YHVH] the Eloah [uses] us [believers] as the sweet aroma of the Messiah's [spirit of love, πŸ˜‡]. [YAH] spreads [us out] among [people he's] saving, as well as among [people he's letting] perish.
16 To [perishing unbelievers], we [believers] are the stink of death, leading only to eternal death. But to saved [people], we, πŸ˜‡, are the sweet aroma of life leading to infinite life. Who is up to the task [of loving a world of people who hate them]?
We teach that you must sell all your possessions and give to the poor, and do what it takes to get martyred. People who only have this life are not going to hasten their own death! It would be silly.
17 Unlike many religionites, we [true believers] aren't selling [corrupted copies of] YHVH's Word for gain. The truth is just the opposite, πŸ˜‡. Unified with the Messiah, we [disciples] speak honestly before YHVH's [eyes]. We speak as ambassadors from Elohim.
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