4. At the time I wrote, I was suffering terribly. My eyes were full of tears, and my heart was broken. But I didn't want to make you feel bad. I only wanted to let you know how much I cared for you.
5. I don't want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one who has been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones.
6. Most of you have already pointed out the wrong that person did, and that is punishment enough for what was done.
7. When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won't give up in despair.
8. You should make them sure of your love for them.
9. I also wrote because I wanted to test you and find out if you would follow my instructions.
10. I will forgive anyone you forgive. Yes, for your sake and with Christ as my witness, I have forgiven whatever needed to be forgiven.