That Smell

2 Cor. 2:12-17

v14: “Triumphal procession”: Highest military distinction; only allowed to one who held the office of dictator (Caesar), Consul, or praetor and after a decisive victory in the complete subjugation of a province

The victorious general entered the city in a chariot drawn by four horses. He was crowned with laurel, having a scepter in one hand and a branch of laurel in the other. He was preceded by the senate and magistrates, musicians, the spoils of his victory, and the captives in fetters; and followed by his army on foot, in marching order.

2 possible ideas

-Paul is the trophy being led around as an example of God’s power; we know at the end of Paul’s voyages he will ultimately be martyred in Rome.

-an added detail may be included which separates a human General and God’s triumph, the captive is brought willingly into obedience (2 Cor. 10:5) and joining in the triumph.

-God “leads him in triumph” as one not merely triumphed over, but also as one triumphing over God’s foes with God (which last will apply to the apostle’s triumphant missionary progress under the leading of God). (Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 303.)

Are you being led captive or are you triumphing over God’s enemies?

-HE’s already won! (Col. 2:13-15)

-Evangelism/ Apologetics (Rom. 8:28)

v14: “Fragrance of the knowledge of [Christ] everywhere”

-Sacrifice = pleasing aroma

-with sacrifice, there was always death of some sort.

Gen. 3, Gen. 4,Gen. 8, Ex. 29, Lev. 1, Ezek. 20

Which sacrifice are you displaying? Christ’s death or your’s?

Rom. 12:1-2: “A living sacrifice”

1 Pet. 2:1-5: “come to Jesus as a holy priesthood”

Heb. 10:19-24: “enter holy places washed clean”

Heb. 13:15: “sacrifice of praise, fruit of the lips”

v. 15-16: “aroma”, “fragrance”

The procession thus advanced along the Via Sacra to the Capitol, where a bull was sacrificed to Jupiter, and the laurel wreath deposited in the lap of the god. During the triumphal entry the priests burned incense, and hence the reference of the apostle:

-To the victor, the smell of triumph; to the captives, the smell of death typically in the Roman arena or vaults of Tullianum.

-Put differently, it was to one a smell of redemption in Christ, and to the other a smell spiritual death

v. 16: “who is sufficient”

-God makes all Christians to be a reminder (“the fragrance of Christ”) that there is either hope in Christ or death without him.

2 Cor. 3:5-6

v. 17: “not peddlers of God’s word”

Matt. 7:15-20: “beware false prophets...known by their fruit”

What fruit are you producing?

Is the aroma of your faith a pleasing one to God?

If you’re a reminder to all, what are you reminding them?

Are you being led captive or are you triumphing over God’s enemies?