3. The Fragrance of Christ’s Ministering People (2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6)
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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The remains of several ancient vaulted chambers at the Baths of
Herodes Atticus, near Troas. |
Now Paul turns from asking the Corinthians to forgive and
restore a disciplined member to describing his longing to hear from them and
give them a report concerning a recent missionary trip.
Paul’s ministry center was Ephesus during this time, but from
there he made various trips to strengthen the churches.
“Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of
Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me....” (2:12)
He travelled north in the province of Asia by road to Troas,
an important seaport and commercial center, and gateway from Asia to Macedonia
and Thrace.
Paul had passed through Troas on his second missionary
journey (Acts 16:7-12), but did not stay to preach there. He received his
“Macedonian call” in a dream and sailed to Macedonia to begin the church in
Philippi. But now Paul finds “an open door,” an expression that Paul uses to
indicate receptiveness to the gospel, an opportunity for “effective work” (1
Corinthians 16:9), “something made possible or feasible.”[73]
And so he begins to preach in Troas, establishing a church.[74]
But he doesn’t stay very long.
“13 I still had no peace of mind,[75]
because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and
went on to Macedonia.” (2:12-13)
He has hoped to find Titus at this possible meeting
place. However, still concerned about the report that Titus will bring regarding
the situation in Corinth, he sails from Troas to Macedonia where he finds Titus
at last (7:5-7).
Now he pauses to reflect on the amazing experience of seeing
God open people to the gospel as he had at Troas. So many are closed to God, but
some have been prepared to receive the Word.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in
triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance
of the knowledge of him.” (2:14)
Paul’s image of a triumphal expression is a graphic – and
controversial – one. “Triumphal procession” (NIV, NRSV), “triumph” (KJV) is thriambeuō, used here and in Colossians 2:15. It has four possible meanings:
- To
cause someone to triumph (KJV), but this has been abandoned by modern
interpreters.
- To
put someone on show or display.
- To
lead captives in a triumphal procession. Though this use has the best lexical
support, being led as a captive suggests shame, which isn’t Paul’s point here.
- To
lead someone as a soldier in a triumphal procession. This fits the context best
and has been adopted by the NIV, NRSV, NASB, New Jerusalem Bible. This makes the
most sense to me.[76]
The image is striking: a victorious general leading his
army in a triumphant procession through a conquered city – or even into the
capital city of the empire. During such a parade, incense would be burned to the
gods and its fragrance would be carried to the crowds lining the streets. The
aroma would be unforgettable.
Up until now, Paul has talked about the trials and struggles
that have accompanied his ministry. This reference to a triumphal procession
doesn’t reflect triumphalism, but a balanced view of ministry effectiveness that
God brings in spite of difficulties.
It is this idea of fragrance that Paul carries forward to
describe his ministry of salvation.
“14 But thanks be to God, who always
leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the
fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the
aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the
fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2:14-16)
Two Greek nouns are used to describe this scent:
- “Fragrance”
(NIV, NRSV), “savor” (KJV) in verses 14 and 16 is osmē, generally, “odor,
smell,” of a pleasant odor or a bad odor, then figuratively, the quality of
something that affects the mind as with an odor.”[77]
The word in verse 14 is in a positive sense. Then the word occurs twice in verse
16, first of the smell of death and then of the fragrance of life.
- “Aroma”
(NIV, NRSV), “sweet savor” (KJV) in verse 15 is euōdia, “aroma,
fragrance,” used elsewhere of the fragrance from a sacrifice, pleasing to God.[78]
The fragrance of the gospel – and of the carriers of this
gospel – is “the knowledge of God.” Wherever Paul went, he told people about
Jesus, spread the knowledge that there is a Savior – and he reflected in his
life the intimate knowledge of a personal relationship with Jesus, the fragrance
of a pleasant, winsome character.
Paul contrasts two types of smells in verse 16:
- Smell of death is the odor of the putrefying flesh of a corpse. Even when
masked by funeral spices, the smell is still present. No one is fooled. It is
the smell of people who are “perishing,” ap-ollymi, “to cause or
experience destruction,” here in the middle voice, “perish, be ruined.”[79]
Many Christians don’t really believe that people are lost, dying, and being
destroyed forever to end up in a hell eternally separated from God. But that is
the pungent odor of eternal death that Paul is trying to contrast with the
fragrant smell of life and victory.
- Fragrance of life is the pleasant smell of perfumed incense that fills the
nostrils with the stimulating scent of safety and joy, signified by a victory
parade. It is the fragrance of people being saved and rescued from their lives
of sin.
Dear friend, do you have any strong spiritual “scent” when
you are around people, or have you given up on it so as not to offend those who
are allergic to Christian perfume? Jesus said that it’s possible for disciples
to lose their “saltiness” (to employ a different analogy, Matthew 5:12). We must
be authentic – be who we really are in Christ – realizing that to some (those
whom the Holy Spirit has prepared) we will be welcome messengers of eternal
life, and to others (who resist the Holy Spirit), we will be seen as bearers of
a restrictive message that would hobble a person’s licentious lifestyle. The
gospel has a way of clarifying the issue, leading some to eternal life and
confirming others in their destination of eternal death.
Q1. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16a) In what sense is knowing God
fragrant to people who are open to God? In what way is this fragrance repugnant
to people who are closed to God? Have you suppressed your “fragrance” because
some people are allergic to Christian perfume? If so, how can you regain the
fragrance of Christ’s gospel?
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1078
Paul closes this brief section with a question:
“And who is equal to such a task?” (NIV)
“Who is sufficient for these things?” (NRSV, KJV)
Who is really able to spread the fragrance of Christ
around him or her to draw people to the gospel of love? The answer to this
question is found later in this lesson in 3:4-6, where the questions of
sufficiency and competency[80]
is explored. But with his next sentence, Paul implies that though he and his
associates are equipped for the task of the gospel ministry, his opponents are
not – those who are mere peddlers of the word.
Now Paul turns to motives for ministry, since his motives
have been called into question by his opponents in Corinth.
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God
for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like
men sent from God.” (2:17)
He contrasts two motives:
- Selfish. “Peddle for profit / peddlers” (NIV, NRSV), “corrupt” (KJV) is the
verb kapēleuō, “trade in, peddle, huckster,” in the context of retail
trade, often used of tavern-keepers in secular Greek. Because of the tricks of
small tradesmen of using false weights, or thinning the wine with water, the
word almost comes to mean, “adulterate.”[81]
The motive of self-appointed false apostles is always self-seeking,
self-aggrandizing, sometimes with a financial incentive. Too often we’ve seen
preachers abuse money! But this verse also applies to those who will water down
the requirements of the gospel in order to get followers. We’ve seen a lot of
people promoting “easy believe-ism” in our day, since to get people to embrace
the concept of discipleship might result in them walking sadly away from Jesus –
and from us.
- Unselfish. “Sincerity” (NIV) is
eilikrineia, “the quality or state of
being free of dissimulation, sincerity, purity of motive.”[82]
The motive of “men sent from God” is to bear the truth without any selfish
motive or trickery, but with sincerity. We have been sent to people to please
God our Sender, not to please ourselves. It is not about us! We are bearers of
God’s word, not reinterpreters of it in order to suit the hearers’ fancies.
Paul’s opponents question and undermine his apostolic
authority. Does he have credentials that prove he is an apostle? Or is he just
promoting himself? Paul answers these innuendoes head on.
“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do
we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?” (3:1)
The verb “commend” is synistēmi, from syn-,
“together” + istēmi, “place, set,” that is, “to bring together.” Here it
has the specialized meaning, “to bring together as friends or in a trusting
relationship by commending or recommending, present, introduce/recommend someone
to someone else.”[83]
This theme of commending or recommending is mentioned a number of places in 2
Corinthians.[84]
Letters of introduction or recommendation were widespread in
the ancient world. Often the bearer of the letter would be the one commended and
would receive appropriate hospitality and welcome upon arrival.[85]
Paul himself sent such letters, for example, to the Roman church, he says:
“ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a
servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the
Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from
you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.” (Romans
16:1-2)
Some of the Corinthians seem to be agitating for Paul to
produce a letter stating his apostolic credentials. His answer is to the point:
“2 You yourselves are our letter,[86]
written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our
ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on
tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (3:2-3)
Do you want proof that I am an apostle? You’re it! You are
the fruit of my apostolic ministry. I founded your church. I brought many of you
to faith in Christ. Rather than someone else’s recommendation of us, you
yourselves are the evidence.
Paul’s insight is quite remarkable. People can read you like
a book. They can sense if you’re genuine or not. That’s why outward piety is so
disgusting. What convinces people of Christian authenticity is the unmistakable
inner spirit. Peter told women who were tempted to dress to impress:
“Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the
unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s
sight.” (1 Peter 3:4)
You, dear friend, are a letter from Christ to your neighbor,
to your son or daughter, to your co-worker. Let the Spirit of God have his full
way with you so that the letter doesn’t get distorted or become unreadable
because of your smudges!
Q2. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) In what sense are we “living
letters”? In what way can people “read us”? Why is it so important to be
authentic, not phony, in our lives? What happens when people “read” something in
you that they admire and mention it to you? How might you respond appropriately?
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1079
Because he knows the fruit of his ministry, Paul is confident
– but he doesn’t take personal credit for this fruit. Back in 2:16, Paul asked
the rhetorical question: “Who is sufficient (hikanos) for these things?”
(NRSV, KJV). Now he answers the question.
“4 Such confidence[87]
as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent
(hikanos) in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence
(hikanotēs) comes from God. 6 He has made us competent
(hikanoō) as ministers of a new covenant – not of the letter but of the
Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (3:4-6)
“Competent” (NIV, NRSV), “sufficient” (KJV) is the adjective
hikanos, which has the basic sense of “sufficient, enough, large enough.”[88]
We saw it first in 2:16 above. Here it means “pertaining to meeting a standard,
fit, appropriate, competent, qualified, able,” with the connotation, “worthy,
good enough.”[89]
The word group also appears in this verse as a verb hikanoō[90]
and a noun hikanotēs.[91]
The question Paul is addressing is: What makes a minister
competent? Is it a letter of recommendation – which is the ancient equivalent of
a certificate of ordination, which is an organizational recommendation? Or is it
a diploma of graduation from a Bible course or a theological seminary? What
makes a minister competent?
Paul’s answer is that God makes us competent by his Spirit –
pure and simple. With the gifts and calling of God, a minister is competent to
nurture and give birth to spiritual life in people who don’t know the Lord. This
is from God!
So if our competence for ministry is from the Spirit, then
does theological training and ordination have any meaning? Yes! Let me explain.
First, let’s discuss the value of theological training. I
grant that many seminaries offer inadequate training. They deal with the
intellectual questions of the faith and equip pastors to lead existing churches.
Too often, however, they don’t offer enough in the areas of character
development and practical topics such as leadership, church planting, and
evangelism that are necessary to grow the church. But in my experience,
seminaries, and to some extent Bible colleges, provide excellent help in (1)
training pastors to interpret scripture and (2) background to be able to think
critically, to ask the important questions.
Next, let’s talk about the role of the local church. Frankly,
an indispensible place for ministers to be prepared is through experience in the
local church under the mentoring of a wise pastor. Here is where character
formation happens along with leadership development and experience with
evangelism and growth.
Finally, let’s examine the place of licensing (for
pastors-in-training working in the local church) and ordination (for those who
have been trained and are ready to go out on their own). Licensing says: We
believe this person is called by God and is qualified to work in ministry under
supervision. Ordination is essentially a letter of recommendation to people who
come across the path of the minister that he or she has gone through an adequate
training program, possesses gifts of the Holy Spirit, is of strong Christian
character, and has placed himself or herself in an ongoing relationship of
accountability to other leaders in the Church.
I’ve met some “self-made” pastors who seem to be functioning
well in ministry – and many who aren’t. I’ve heard seminaries called
“cemeteries” by groups that have an anti-intellectual bias. (And some seminaries
probably are!) I’ve heard people say dismissively, “I don’t need man’s
ordination; it is God who ordains people.” But often these kinds of
statements are made out of a combination of ignorance, pride, arrogance, and
rebelliousness.
To have a healthy ministry, the Church (usually a
denomination or association of like-minded churches) needs to make sure that
those in ministry leadership roles:
- Know
the Scriptures and can interpret them soundly and wisely,
- Have
spiritual gifts for ministry and exercise them with care and wisdom,
- Are
of tested moral character and live a holy life,
- Have
a healthy and growing devotional life,
- Act
properly in terms of money, sex, and power (areas that have derailed many
promising ministries), and
- Continue in accountability to their elders and peers in the larger Church, so
that they don’t get off track doctrinally, morally, or spiritually.
There are always mavericks in ministry – some of whom bring a
real corrective to the Church. But it is valuable to local churches when seeking
a pastor to have a letter of recommendation from other trusted Christian leaders
that this candidate meets important criteria as a spiritual leader. I believe
that training and ordination have an important place.
Having said that, Paul is absolutely correct in stating that
our competency – that is, our ability to do effective ministry – comes from God
working through the Spirit.
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new
covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life.” (3:6)
We can have the best training that seminaries can provide, we
can have powerful spiritual gifts, we can have great personal charisma, we can
have a dynamic work ethic. But none of this by itself will produce spiritual
fruit that remains. Only coupled with submission to the dynamic Spirit of God
will we see fruit that remains – and that is the purpose of ministry, whether
ordained or lay ministry.
Q3. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6) What is the balance between the
need for training in ministry (either in the local church or in schools) and
personal submission to the Spirit of God? Are you able to “listen to the
Spirit’s voice” in your own life? Why would this ability be so important in
being a competent minister?
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1080
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new
covenant” (3:6a)
I’ve spent quite a bit of time discussing theological
training and ordination, as if it were necessary for ministry within the local
church. It’s not! For church members who aspire to lead other
congregations, however, these elements are very important.
Each Christian, each member, has been given spiritual gifts
and has a ministry – no matter how seemingly insignificant – within the local
church. After all, the word “minister” in 3:6 is the word diakonos (from
which we get our word “deacon”), which means simply, “one who serves,”
“generally, one who is busy with something in a manner that is of assistance to
someone.”[92]
People who serve according to their gifts make any local church effective.
Without them, the church doesn’t work. In this sense, think of yourself as a
“minister” who is serving Christ and Christ’s body, the church.
One of the serious consequences of not attending church
regularly is that you probably aren’t exercising your spiritual gifts in
ministry, and you may not be giving of your finances to support Christ’s mission
in your community. Every church has flaws, since it is made up of flawed people,
but you must be part of a church because it an integral part of Jesus’ strategy
to minister to his people and to the world. If you’re out of regular fellowship
with a church – unless you’re physically unable to attend – it’s time to
reconsider!
Q4. (2 Corinthians 3:6a) Why is a Christian’s spiritual
health so closely related to his or her involvement in ministry? What are the
consequences of dropping out of church – for the believer? For Christ’s Kingdom?
http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1081
The other important phrase in this verse is “new covenant.”
The Old Covenant brought through Moses and spelled out in the Mosaic Law, has
now been fulfilled and is therefore obsolete. We are under the New Covenant,
promised by the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31) and ushered in by Jesus
through his own blood – a Kingdom that operates not on the basis of a written
law or code, but on the basis of the Holy Spirit now living in each believer.
The old has passed, behold the new has come!
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup,
saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
(Luke 22:20; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:25)
“... To Jesus the mediator of a new covenant....”
(Hebrews 12:24; also see Hebrews 8:8; 9:15)
Because of the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood and the life of
the Holy Spirit within you, you have eternal life – now and an unfading hope of
life with Christ – forever! You have a fragrance around you that attracts people
to salvation in Jesus. You have the ability to serve by the Spirit. And you are
a competent minister of the Messiah. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Thank you, Father, for all the blessings you bestow upon me
through the Spirit. Keep me humble before you and before my brothers and
sisters, so that your Spirit may flow unimpeded and uncontaminated through me to
touch others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Key Verses
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in
triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance
of the knowledge of him. 15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians
2:14-15)
“You yourselves are our letter, written on our
hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ,
the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the
living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (2
Corinthians 3:2-3)
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new
covenant – not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the
Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
End Notes
Chapter 3
2 Corinthians Bible Study
Copyright © 1985-2012, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.
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