New Living Translation
2 Corinthians 2:15
15Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
- New International Version (NIV)For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
Context of 2 Corinthians 2:15
13But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him. 14But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16To 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? 17You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.
Read all of 2 Corinthians 22 Corinthians 2:15 word by word
ὅτι Χριστοῦ εὐωδία ἐσμὲν τῷ θεῷ ἐν τοῖς σῳζομένοις καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀπολλυμένοις,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- we areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- unto Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- unto Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- a sweet savourεὐωδίαeuōdia · aromaG2175
- of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- are savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- perishἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 2:15
- Genesis 8:21And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.
- Exodus 29:18then burn the entire animal on the altar. This is a burnt offering to the Lord; it is a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the Lord.
- Ezekiel 20:41When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch.
- Ephesians 5:2Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
- Philippians 4:18At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
- 2 Corinthians 4:3If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.
- Isaiah 49:5And now the Lord speaks— the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength.
- 1 Corinthians 1:18The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 2:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ - The apostle still alludes to the case of a triumph; the conqueror always represented the person of Jupiter; as even the heathens supposed that God alone could give the victory: and as the punishment of death was inflicted on some of the captives, who had often rebelled and broken leagues and covenants; so others were spared, made tributaries, and often became allies. Alluding to this, the apostle says: We are…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For we are unto God - We who are his ministers, and who thus triumph. It is implied here that Paul felt that ministers were laboring for God, and felt assured that their labors would be acceptable to him. The object of Paul in the statement, in this and in the following verses, is undoubtedly to meet the charges of his detractors and enemies. He says, therefore, that whatever was the result of his labors in regard to the future salvation of people; yet…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. 1515. The order is in Greek, "For (it is) of Christ (that) we are a sweet savor unto God"; thus, the "for" justifies his previous words (2Co 2:14), "the savor of His (Christ's) knowledge." We not only scatter the savor; but "we are the sweet savor" itself (So 1:3; compare Joh 1:14, 16; Ep 5:2; 1Jo 2:27). in them that are saved--rather, "that are being saved ... that are perishing" (see on 1Co 1:18). As the light, though it blinds in darkness the weak, is…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 2:15
In the dictionaries
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
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