2 Corinthians 2:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

NIV: To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

NASB: to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?

CSB: To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things?

NLT: To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

KJV: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

NKJV: To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Prior verses have painted a beautiful and startling word picture—or, perhaps, something more accurately called a "nose picture." Paul has described Christians as "the aroma of Christ" on earth. He so permeates our being that the essence of Him travels with believers into their relationships with everyone they know. This is true whether those who a believer knows "are being saved" from hell—through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sin—or "perishing"—on the road to eternal destruction in punishment for sin. Those are the only two options—there is no middle ground (John 3:16–18).

One origin for this metaphor was the use of incense during Roman victory parades, when captives would be marched to give evidence of triumph. To those in the crowd who hated and feared Rome, that smell would evoke thoughts of death and defeat. For those who allied with Rome, it was the smell of victory.

In that vein, Paul adds that "the aroma of Christ" smells differently to these two opposed groups. To those on the path to hell, "the aroma of Christ" is the odor of death. Their rejection of Him is the rejection of the opportunity to move from eternal death to eternal life. Evidence of the reality of Christ's influence is, to them, a source of condemnation and conviction. Believers, on the other hand, sense from each other a reassurance of life in "the aroma of Christ." He is the source of all life and faith in Him is the path to eternal life.

Paul expresses that this influence—this unseen impression—which Christians carry is a privileged burden. "Who is sufficient for these things?" is Paul's rhetorical statement about how potent this idea really is. In other words, who is worthy to carry such a fragrance? Arguably, nobody is truly worthy (Romans 3:10), but in this sense Paul implies that such influence is only appropriate for those truly sent by God—not the false teachers or false Christians who had infiltrated the church (2 Corinthians 2:17).

Second Corinthians 2:12–17 briefly continues Paul's story of deciding not to come to Corinth until learning whether they were ready. He hoped to learn of their response in Troas, but his co-worker Titus did not show up with the news. Feeling unrestful in his spirit, Paul left. He then transitions into powerfully describing Christians as the aroma of Christ on earth: evoking death to those perishing and life to those being saved. Paul insists that he and his co-workers are sent by God.

Paul explains why he delayed coming to visit the Corinthians. In great anguish, he had written a painful letter to tell them they must correct a man among them. This person may have challenged Paul's authority as an apostle of Jesus. The Corinthians disciplined the man, and he repented. Paul told them to forgive him. He tells of Titus failing to show up in Troas with news about the Corinthians, then transitions into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth to everyone they know.

Second Corinthians continues uninterrupted from the previous chapter. Paul is explaining why he waited to come to Corinth. He wanted to see if they would side with him, or with the man who challenged his authority. They disciplined the man. He repented. Paul commands restoration and forgiveness. He then tells of failing to find Titus in Troas with news about them before transitioning into teaching that Christians are the aroma of Christ on earth, smelling of death to the perishing and life to those being saved. This brings Paul back to the subject of his own authority in chapter 3.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.