2 Corinthians 2:16

2 Corinthians 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (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?
• New International Version (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?
• New King James Version (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?
• New Living Translation (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?

Context of 2 Corinthians 2:16

14But 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. 15For 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? 17For 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 2:16 word by word

οἷς μὲν ὀσμὴ ἐκ θανάτου εἰς θάνατον, οἷς δὲ ὀσμὴ ἐκ ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν. καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• To the oneὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• the savourὀσμήosmē · aromaG3744
• of deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
• untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• andδέde · thenG1161
• of lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whoτίςtis · which?G5101
• sufficientἱκανόςhikanos · sufficientG2425
• forπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:16

• Luke 2:34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
• John 9:39Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind."
• Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him.
• Acts 20:26Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all,
• 1 Peter 2:7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"
• 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16To the one we are the savour of death unto death - There are several sayings among the ancient Jewish writers similar to this. In Debarim Rabba, sec. i. fol. 248, it is said: "As the bee brings home honey to its owner, but stings others; so it is with the words of the law;" לישראל חיים סם sam chaiyim leyisrael, "They are a savour of lives to the Israelites:" העולם לאומות המות וסם vesam hammaveth leomoth haolam, "And a savour of death to the people of this…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16To the one - To those who perish. We are the savour of death unto death - We are the occasion of deepening their condemnation, and of sinking them lower into ruin. The expression used here means literally, “to the one class we bear a death-conveying odor leading to their death” - a savor, a smell which, under the circumstances, is destructive to life, and which leads to death. Mr. Locke renders this: “To the one my preaching is of ill savor, unacceptable…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-17Verses 12-17 A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16Incense was scattered along the parade route of a victorious Roman general, and people received it in two ways. For the captives heading to the arena and death, it smelled like death and doom. For the victors, it was a life-giving perfume. This is similar to those who share the good news about Jesus. It either leads to eternal life or seals the fate of those who reject it (compare 1 Corinthians 1:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. savour of death unto death ... of life unto life--an odor arising out of death (a mere announcement of a dead Christ, and a virtually lifeless Gospel, in which light unbelievers regard the Gospel message), ending (as the just and natural consequence) in death (to the unbeliever); (but to the believer) an odor arising out of life (that is, the announcement of a risen and living Saviour), ending in life (to the believer) (Mt 21:44; Lu 2:34; Joh 9:39)…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 2:16

• Judgment
• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Preaching
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Advantage
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Determine
• Sufficient
• Army
• Church Government
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Life
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings