Why Paul Postponed His Visit

23  Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 24  I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

2  So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit. 2  For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? 3  And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. 4  For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you. 5  But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. 6  This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him, 7  so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair. 8  Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. 9  For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. 10  If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ, 11  so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). 12  Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me, 13  I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.