THE AROMA OF CHRIST
Key verse: 14
NIV
Ministers of the New Covenant
12 Now when I went to Troas(A) to preach the gospel of Christ(B) and found that the Lord had opened a door(C) for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind,(D) because I did not find my brother Titus(E) there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.(F)
14 But thanks be to God,(G) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma(H) of the knowledge(I) of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma(J) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(K) 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death;(L) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?(M) 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(N) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(O) as those sent from God.(P)
Cross references
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 : S Ac 16:8
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 : S Ro 1:1; 2Co 4:3, 4; 8:18; 9:13; 1Th 3:2
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 : S Ac 14:27
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 : 2Co 7:5
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 : 2Co 7:6, 13; 8:6, 16, 23; 12:18; Gal 2:1, 3; Tit 1:4
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 : S Ac 16:9
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : Ro 6:17; 7:25; 1Co 15:57; 2Co 9:15
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : Eze 20:41; Eph 5:2; Php 4:18
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : S 2Co 8:7
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 : S ver 14; Ge 8:21; Ex 29:18; Nu 15:3
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 : S 1Co 1:18
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 : S Lk 2:34; Jn 3:36
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 : 2Co 3:5, 6
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 : S Ac 20:33; 2Co 4:2; 1Th 2:5
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 : 1Co 5:8
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 : 2Co 1:12; 12:19
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Triumph in Christ
12 When (A)I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though (B)a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit (C)was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
14 But (D)thanks be to God, who in Christ always (E)leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads (F)the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among (G)those who are being saved and among (H)those who are perishing, 16 (I)to one a fragrance from death to death, (J)to the other a fragrance from life to life. (K)Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Read full chapterCross references
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 : Acts 16:8; 20:6
- 2 Corinthians 2:12 : See Acts 14:27
- 2 Corinthians 2:13 : ch. 7:5
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : ch. 8:16; [ch. 9:15]; See Rom. 6:17
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : Col. 2:15 (Gk.)
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 : Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18; [Song 1:3]
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 : See 1 Cor. 1:18
- 2 Corinthians 2:15 : ch. 4:3
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 : [Luke 2:34; John 9:39; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8]
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 : [Luke 2:34; John 9:39; 1 Pet. 2:7, 8]
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 : ch. 3:5, 6
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The importance of one man (12-13)
Paul found an open door to preach the gospel in Troas, but when he didn't find Titus there, he said good-bye and went on to Macedonia. Training faithful men had top priority in Paul's ministry. Each Christian worker must become the aroma of Christ. Paul sacrificed an opportunity to preach to many for the task of training one.
2. The aroma of Christ (14-17)
A Christian is one who is united with Christ in his suffering and united with him in his triumph. He does not live by his reason or by his feelings, but by the gospel. So he is the aroma of life to those who receive the gospel and are being saved; and he is the smell of death to those who reject the gospel. A Christian who compromises with the world loses his distinctive fragrance. God's servant must have a pure heart and pure motives and he must speak before God.
Prayer: Lord, dwell in me so that I may be the aroma of Christ, and live as your servant.
One Word: The fragrance of Christ