What Frangrance Are We? – 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

When the rich young ruler came to Jesus about how to procure eternal life, thinking he was good enough to do that, Jesus had to expose his real dependence in life, his money (Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-23).   The man went away sorrowful and unconverted, and Jesus loved him, but the truth had turned the man away from life. Some have suggested that we stop preaching the gospel so that others won’t stumble over the truth and only harden themselves in unbelief and bear even greater judgment. But that is not Jesus’ way, as Paul explains.

When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 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. (2 Corinthians 2:12-17 ESV)

Paul was experiencing amazing ministry in Troas across the Aegean Sea from Corinth and Macedonia, but he was concerned about how the Corinthians were responding to Titus whom he had sent to help them with some of the issues he dealt with incipiently in 1 Corinthians.  He was so concerned that he left Troas and began making his way to Corinth by going to Macedonia.  Paul was concerned that the leadership that was becoming predominant in Corinth was leading the church astray.  As we’ll see they were arrogant about the gifts they possessed, the knowledge they possessed, and their superiority to Paul.  They were vying against him for the hearts of the Corinthians. And we hear their voice of accusation in Paul’s denial that he is peddling God’s word.

For Paul, as for all true believers, our being conquered by God and being a part of His triumphal procession, parading His victory over us is what measures real victory.  Our “defeat” at God’s hands and the suffering we now do for Him is what creates a fragrance that is pleasing to those whom God has called to salvation, but smells of death only to those perishing already. 

Losing our lives for Christ’s sake and offering that as a fragrant testimony to the gospel is just the opposite of peddling God’s Word. The accusing leadership at Corinth has it all wrong.  And this is why Paul did not take money from the Corinthians (as he explained in 1 Corinthians 9) for his ministry among them and why he found his sufficiency for this ministry only in Christ himself.  Our glory as believers is not in how people respond to us but in how faithful we are to respond to God and serve out His commission in Christ, even if that results in the perishing of some.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you were to come up with an object or item that best describes your life right now, what would it be?
2. As you read this passage, what object would you say was representing Paul’s life at that time?
3. Do you ever feel responsible if someone does or does not receive the gospel when you share it with them? Explain.
4. Do you ever feel fearful or embarrassed to share the gospel with someone?
5. What is Paul’s answer to the question, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
6. How does your approach to sharing the gospel need to change in light of Paul’s teaching?