Read the Bible

¹ So, I decided not to come just to be the bearer of bad news. ² My goal is not scold, but to bring joy. If all I did was scold y'all, who would be able to bring me joy then? It's sure not going to be the one who just took a bad butt chewin'! ³ That's why I decided to just write y'all a letter. That way, there'd be time for hard growing and when I got there, it would be a joyous time instead of a hard time. If y'all are hurting, then you can bet I'm hurting. If y'all are glad, then I'm glad, too. ⁴ When I sat down to write that letter to you, it felt like a knife in my gut. Tears spilled out of me like a waterfall because of what I had to say for your benefit. I didn't want to say anything hurtful, but I loved y'all enough to tell you the truth.

Forgiveness Time

⁵ That fellow you all know about sure caused a lot of trouble—not for me, but for you. ⁶ I know most of you stood up to him and I think that was probably punishment enough. ⁷ I think the time has come for everyone to forgive him and let bygones be bygones. If you don't, he might sink into such a despair that he won't be able to find his way back. ⁸ Lift your chins and put your pride in your pocket and go get the guy and tell him y'all love him. ⁹ One of the reasons I wrote you a letter was to see if y'all would do what you're were told to do. ¹⁰ If you'll forgive him, so will I. And if I'm willing to forgive someone, I do so with the authority of Jesus himself. ¹¹ When we don't forgive folks, that leaves the door ajar for the devil to sneak through. And that old serpent don't need much of an opening to create pure chaos.

¹² When I arrived in Troas, Jesus gave me a great opportunity to preach the good news. ¹³ But I was restless because my pard, Titus, hadn't showed up yet. So I saddled up and headed for Macedonia to find him.

Overcoming Obstacles

¹⁴ But I tip my hat to God! He has put his word in our hearts and we spread the good news like a sweet perfume everywhere we go. ¹⁵ Our very lives are a pleasing scent to God. You know how a feedlot smells great to a cowboy, but it stinks to everyone else. This is how the Christ-like fragrance of God is to others. ¹⁶ To those headed for hell, we stink. But to those who are being saved, our smell is beautiful. Who can be trusted with work such as this?

¹⁷ You see, we ain't preaching for profit. We only preach for the glory of God and with the authority of Jesus. We know God's watching and we must answer to him.