2 Corinthians 2 15

2 Corinthians 2:15 kjv

For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

2 Corinthians 2:15 nkjv

For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:15 niv

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:15 esv

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

2 Corinthians 2:15 nlt

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.

2 Corinthians 2 verses

2 Corinthians 2 15 Meaning

This verse declares that believers in Christ, through their testimony and lives, constitute a "pleasing aroma" (or fragrant sacrifice) to God. This divine fragrance originates from Christ Himself. Crucially, this same "aroma" has a dual effect in the world: it is experienced as life-giving by those who are accepting of God's grace and are continuously being saved, while simultaneously becoming an aroma of death or judgment for those who reject it and are consequently in the process of perishing. The focus is on the believers' spiritual state and their God-appointed mission as expressions of Christ's presence, impacting humanity profoundly.

2 Corinthians 2 15 Context

This verse follows directly from 2 Corinthians 2:14, where Paul describes God's triumphal procession, in which believers are led as triumphant captives, and through whom God spreads "the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place." Verse 15 elaborates on the nature of this "fragrance." Paul draws on the imagery of a Roman triumphal parade (a common spectacle in his day), where incense was burned, filling the air. For the victors and their allies, this aroma signified conquest and honor; for the vanquished captives marching to their doom, it symbolized impending death.The broader context of 2 Corinthians sees Paul defending his apostleship, clarifying his intentions and ministry methods, and addressing issues within the Corinthian church. He asserts his authenticity and the divine authority of his ministry, positioning himself and his co-workers as active participants in God's ongoing work of revelation and salvation, despite personal suffering or apparent weakness.

2 Corinthians 2 15 Word analysis

• For (Ὅτι / Hoti): This conjunction connects verse 15 to the preceding verse 14. It indicates a reason or explanation, continuing the thought about the widespread fragrance of Christ's knowledge. The "fragrance" mentioned in verse 14 is the believers themselves, who are an "aroma to God."
• we are (ἐσμὲν / esmen): A strong first-person plural verb "we are." It's a statement of identity and fact, directly connecting the apostles (and by extension, all true believers) to this powerful imagery. It denotes a spiritual reality: our very being, as consecrated to Christ, is this aroma.
• to God (τῷ Θεῷ / tō Theō): This dative phrase specifies the ultimate recipient of the aroma. The primary significance of the believers' lives and ministry is its acceptability to God, rather than its reception by humanity. While the aroma has an effect on people, its existence and nature are defined by its divine pleasingness.
• the pleasing aroma (εὐωδία / euōdia): This key term translates as "a sweet smell," "fragrance," or "pleasing aroma."
  • Old Testament Significance: In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), euōdia frequently describes the "soothing aroma" or "pleasing odor" of sacrificial offerings (e.g., Lev 1:9, Gen 8:21, Exod 29:18). These were sacrifices acceptable to God, signifying appeasement, communion, or dedication. This connection implies that believers, as participants in Christ, become a living, acceptable sacrifice to God.
  • Roman Triumph Context: As noted, it evokes the burning of incense during triumphal processions, a smell associated with victory for the Romans. Paul recontextualizes this, portraying Christians not as mere observers but as part of God's triumphant procession, and their very existence, lived for Christ, produces a divine fragrance.
• of Christ (Χριστοῦ / Christou): The genitive case indicates the source or origin. The aroma is not inherent to believers themselves but stems entirely from Christ. It is His presence, His life, His truth, and His redemptive work operating through believers that constitute this pleasing aroma. It is Christ-centered.
• among those who are being saved (ἐν τοῖς σῳζομένοις / en tois sōzomenois): This phrase refers to individuals in the process of salvation. The Greek participle is in the present tense and passive voice, indicating an ongoing action—they "are being saved." For this group, the "aroma of Christ" is perceived as the sweet fragrance of life, bringing spiritual quickening, repentance, and faith.
• and (καὶ / kai): A simple conjunction connecting the two contrasting groups upon whom the "aroma" has differing effects.
• those who are perishing (ἐν τοῖς ἀπολλυμένοις / en tois apollymenois): This refers to those who are rejecting God's grace and are therefore in the process of spiritual destruction or judgment. Like "being saved," the participle here (present middle/passive) denotes an ongoing, active process of "perishing." For this group, the same aroma of Christ, presented through believers, becomes offensive, a stench of death and judgment. It’s not that the aroma itself is bad, but that it triggers a different reaction in those who refuse Christ.

• "For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ": This entire phrase encapsulates the believers' identity and mission. Our very lives, in union with Christ, are an offering that is profoundly pleasing and acceptable to God. This means our service, obedience, worship, and evangelism are not merely tasks, but manifestations of an acceptable spiritual state before Him. It's a statement of intrinsic spiritual value and purpose, defined by God's perception, not human approval.
• "among those who are being saved and those who are perishing": This segment highlights the dichotomous impact of the gospel and Christ's presence in the world. The same message, the same divine truth, has opposing effects depending on the spiritual posture of the recipient. This underlines the inherent division that the gospel creates and its non-neutral nature. It separates humanity into two camps, signifying either life or judgment, without any middle ground.

2 Corinthians 2 15 Bonus section

This verse implies that the ministry of believers (including evangelism, acts of righteousness, and lived testimony) is never without effect. The fragrance is constantly spreading. Even in apparent failures or rejections, the impact of the gospel's message is definitive, contributing either to salvation or to judgment, revealing hearts and exposing choices. This provides great comfort to believers called to witness, knowing that their role is always significant in God's economy, regardless of the perceived immediate outcome. It also touches on God's sovereignty; He uses His people to manifest Himself, and He ordains the various responses to this manifestation, ensuring His ultimate glory whether through salvation or righteous judgment. The Christian is therefore called to faithfully manifest Christ, leaving the results to God.

2 Corinthians 2 15 Commentary

Paul, building on the triumphal imagery from the preceding verse, portrays believers not just as followers in Christ's victory procession but as integral components of the "aroma" that emanates from it. This "pleasing aroma" is fundamentally for God's pleasure and is sourced in Christ. It echoes the Old Testament concept of pleasing sacrifices, positioning believers' consecrated lives and ministry as an acceptable spiritual offering to the Lord. The profound truth is that the effectiveness or pleasantness of this aroma to God is independent of human reception.

However, the presentation of this "aroma" by believers in the world yields a dual and dramatic outcome. For those God is drawing to Himself and who respond in faith, this divine fragrance is life-giving, leading them towards salvation—an ongoing process of being made whole. Conversely, for those who willfully resist and reject Christ, the very same aroma becomes an agent of condemnation and judgment, accelerating their spiritual perishing. This is not because the gospel itself is a "bad" aroma, but because its truth and demands expose and deepen the unregenerate's spiritual state, leading them further away from life. It underscores the profound seriousness and inherent power of the Christian witness and the message of Christ.