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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. ¹⁶ 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? NLT

I regularly pray 3 things for my wife and myself:

• That we will shine for Jesus;
• That we will smell of Jesus;
• And that we will be given open doors to speak about Jesus.

Reading through 2 Corinthians 2, I have realised that all three ideas are to be found in this chapter. Obviously, the verses before us relate to the sense of smell.

David Pawson made the point, one we have previously considered, that the picture here is of a Roman General having a victory parade through the streets of Rome. He pointed out that all along the route there would be incense burning, and he said this would smell very differently to the defeated captives, than it would for the vast majority of winners on the route and in the crowd.

As I think about my prayer request that we will smell of Jesus, this passage helps me to see that not everyone will like the fragrance we are wearing. We should not expect it to be so. Our Christian life and witness will not be to everyone’s taste.

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. The Message

But 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. NLT

Someone spoke about ‘our unconscious influence, impregnated with the fragrance of Christ.’ What a beautiful phrase, and an even more wonderful possibility.

I remember being in a cafe in Interlaken, Switzerland, one morning in April 1989. Suddenly a man walked quickly through the place, and as he did so there was a wafting of a powerful fragrance. He must have been wearing a strong cologne and the effect was unmissable! The fragrance seemed to fill the room. The impression he left behind was vividly real. if you had a sense of smell you couldn’t fail to notice him.

Christian witness in the world can be like this. Paul Barnett comments that Paul’s evangelism was ‘effective and noticeable’. He adds that although the word of God is ‘invisible, there is no doubting its effects.’

How remarkable it is that God ‘’uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere’’ (emphasis mine).

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ 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? ¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. NIV

We are going to spend a few days in this final paragraph of chapter 2. Before we look at the details, here is a quote from Paul Barnett which will help to give it context:

‘The general picture in verse 14a is of a Roman victory procession, though Paul’s specific point is somewhat uncertain, as witnessed by the variety of suggestions as to the precise meaning. Military leaders were granted a public victory procession (triumphas) through Rome only after winning major battles. The most spectacular procession of the first century was the celebration of the conquest of the Jews when, in AD 71, the Emperor Vespasian and his son Titus rode in chariots through the streets of Rome behind their pathetic prisoners of war. Josephus, the Jewish historian, records this at length, and it is also depicted on the Titus Arch in Rome, where it may still be seen. It is not clear whether Paul sees himself as the conquering general or his captive. A case can be made for both, though the apostle as a captive slave seems more likely.’

You will see that both the ‘New Living Translation’ and the ‘New International Version’ interpret it as the latter, whereas the ‘English Standard Version’, for example, simply reads: ” But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession…” However, as we have already seen, the atmosphere of 2 Corinthians would suggest that Paul appeared more like a captive slave than a winner.

But ‘things are seldom what they seem.’ This man who could be called a loser, really was a winner This was the ‘inner reality’ of his ministry.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. NLT

Did Paul eventually meet up with Titus (verse 13), and if so, what happened when he did? For reasons that are not clear, Paul leaves us in suspense. He now engages in a long digression about the apostolic ministry of the new covenant. He does not resume his narrative and tell us what happened in Macedonia until 7:5.

Someone said that when we read the New Testament letters it’s like listening to one half of a telephone conversation. We have to try to piece together what is being said at the other end of the line. Reading between the lines here, we get a sense that Paul had opponents – other preachers who influenced the Corinthians – and who suggested that he was incompetent, always running away from problems, and clearly lacking the power of God. Whereas they were the superstars: charismatic, strong, successful.

A key message of 2 Corinthians, however, is that God’s strength, God’s power is ”made perfect in weakness” (12:9). We follow, and proclaim, a crucified, but risen Saviour and Lord. To be sure, He was crucified in weakness, but He was raised in power and glory. Christian ministry is ‘cruciform’ in shape. It is by way of ‘Good Friday’ that we arrive at ‘Easter Sunday’.

2 Corinthians 2:14a reads like this in the NIV: ”But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession…” The point is that, however it appears, God always leads His people in a victory procession. Paul could say this regardless of recent reversals and problems: rejection in Corinth, expulsion from Ephesus, turmoil in Troas and anxiety in Macedonia. Someone described this as the ‘inner reality’ of Paul’s ministry. If we are led by God, we always move in triumph. But this may not necessarily look like success by worldly standards.

But 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. NLT

‘Paul’s personal connectedness was remarkable, especially in view of how seldom he saw some of his friends, and how exalted his thoughts and his position in the church were.’ John Piper

Paul was a ‘team player‘. In the New Testament he mentions the names of numerous individuals he clearly valued. He knew he needed the ministry, the comradeship, the prayers of others. He built partnerships, nurtured teams, working together with others, as well as on his own.

I remember an article written by a well-known evangelist, in which he told, with loving appreciation, how he had been ‘informally mentored’ by an older Christian in his younger years. His mentor was also a well-known Christian leader, and the evangelist described how this much respected man would take him along, in his car, to events where he was speaking. He said much of this ‘informal mentoring’ went on in long conversations, sat in the man’s car at the end of an evening. I imagine how tired the senior Christian in this story must have felt. He carried enormous responsibilities in his work life, and then his ‘free’ time was voluntarily filled with gospel work. But he poured himself out into others. I myself had the privilege of meeting this man and getting to know him just a little. But from my relatively few encounters with him, I could see that he was an encourager and enabler of others.

Who are you building into?

When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 

Acts 14:27: ” Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.”

Colossians 4:3: ”And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”

The above verse corresponds with what was happening to Paul in Troas. This ‘’door of opportunity’’ was, it seems, a door opened for the gospel ‘’message’’. But if we also take the Acts 14 reference, we find the opening of ‘double-doors’. God opens a door for the church to speak, and He opens the door for sinners to come in to His family of faith.

In both cases it is God who opens the door. He is sovereign.

Some years ago I read an excellent book about evangelism. The author made the point that one Biblical way we can pray about our Christian witness is to ask for ‘open doors’ to be able to speak about Jesus. This idea has gradually seeped into my thinking, and it is now a regular part of my own prayers.

How about you?

When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. ¹³ But 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. (NLT).

Paul was waiting at Troas for Titus to bring him news about how the Corinthians had taken his difficult letter. It’s interesting that although he found an ‘open door’ there, his heart was not at rest to take the ‘’opportunity’’.

I heard a recording of David Pawson preaching on this passage. He talked about the importance of being at peace in our relationships. Sometimes you can’t just plough on with the next big opportunity when there are broken things around you that need your attention.

Paul Burnett comments helpfully: ‘His zeal for the gospel brought him to Troas, but his passionate concern for the Corinthians kept him from staying there, despite the opportunities for preaching the gospel which now existed. Significantly, Paul revisited Troas a year later when finally withdrawing from the region. On that occasion he remained for seven days. Perhaps God kept the door open?’ (See Acts 20:6)

⁹ I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. ¹⁰ When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹ so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (NLT).

Paul had said at the end of chapter 1 that his intention was not to dominate them. Does verse 9 sound like a contradiction of this? Perhaps, superficially, it does. But the more you look at this verse, the more it becomes obvious that it speaks of the freedom of the Corinthians. Of course the apostle had given them guide-rails, but he did not make them do anything. They didn’t have to do what he said. But they would have been foolish not to follow his counsel. Often, when facing knotty local church issues, we need wise external insight and input.

2 Corinthians 7:10 says: ‘’ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.’’

Clearly, the man had now come to repentance and Paul urges forgiveness. The aim of church discipline should be to bring about restoration if at all possible. The devil has significant opportunity to run riot among Christians who hold on to unforgiveness.

‘Satan, who is ever ready to destroy churches, will, in the absence of love and forgiveness, quickly bring bitterness and division’ Paul Barnett.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help us to treat one another generously, because this is how you deal with us.

 I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. ⁶ Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. ⁷ Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. ⁸ So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. (NLT)

I once heard a much loved and respected pastor say that in church leadership we sometimes fear to grasp the nettle, somewhat scared that we might be stung by it. I identified with that! But ‘’painful’’ as it had been, Paul had grasped the Corinthian nettle, and things were now working out well.

Here is an example of Paul not dominating their faith (1:24). He had not neglected his responsibility to play his part (see verse 9) but the Corinthian church, in the main, had got on with disciplining the errant member. We don’t know precisely what the issue was, but it had clearly required church discipline in some form. However, as with the disciplining of children, there is a fine line where what we are doing may be more disheartening than restorative. So a delicate balance is required.

The Bible teacher David Pawson pointed out that this man’s name is never mentioned. So while he must have been known to the Corinthians, no subsequent reader of this letter could ever identify him.

”Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” (NLT).