1 But I decided this with myself, not to come again to you in sorrow (or grief).
2 For if I cause you grief, who is he then that makes me glad (see Acts 2:26, rejoice), except the same which is made sorry by me?
3 And I wrote this same to you, in order that not, when I came, I should have grief from them of whom I ought to rejoice; trusting upon you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and distress of heart I wrote to you through many tears; not that you should be grieved, but in order that you might know the love which I have more abundantly to you. (See 1:2)
5 But if any have caused grief, he has not grieved me, but in part (the grief has come from a part of you who have been led astray): that I may not lay a burden you all. (1 Thess. 2:9. 2 Thess. 3:8)
6 Sufficient to such a one is this censure (Matt. 8:26), which was inflicted by the more. (i.e. the majority)
7 So that [on] the contrary you ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up (see 1 Cor. 15:54) with more abundant sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that you would ratify with authority your love toward him.
9 For this did I write also, that I might know the proof of you (see Rom. 5:4), if you be obedient (see Acts 7:39) in all things.
10 To whom you forgive any thing, I also forgive: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person (i.e sight, or presence) of Christ;
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us (lit. we should be overreached by Satan. See 1 Thess. 4:6): for we are not ignorant of his thoughts. (Phil. 4:7. Eph. 6:11. Rev. 2:24)
12 Now, when I came to Troas (see Acts 16:8) for the gospel of the Messiah, and a door was opened to me of the Lord, (See 1 Cor. 16:9)
13 I had not rest in my spirit (see Acts 24:23), because I found not Titus my brother:
but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be to God, which always leads us in triumph in Christ (Paul was a captive won by grace. In a Roman triumph there were captives detained to be spared and captives destined to death. See v.16), and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by means of us in every place. (Paul gave evidence of the wisdom which dwelt in Him [Col. 2:3] in his own conversion [1 Tim. 1:16], as well as in his preaching)
15 For we are to God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are being saved, and in them that are perishing: (See 1 Cor. 1:18. As long as you are in Christ, you will triumph. Read the end of the Book. We win! Your knowledge of His Word ascends to heaven as a sweet savor.)
16 To the one we are the savor of death to death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (Who is qualified for this task? You are, as long as you stay in His Word.)
17 For we are not as many, which adulterate (cheapen, see Isa. 1:22) the word of God: but as of sincerity (see 1 Cor. 5:8), but as of God, before God speak we in Christ. (In the word "sincerity" in this verse we find again a form of the Greek word which means "let the sunshine judge". When you hear someone teaching God's Word, open it up, and let the sunshine of God's truth judge what is being said. You don't have to judge. Let God's Word judge. You must also be willing to have what you teach judged by the same standards.)