2 Corinthians 2:16 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?
2 Corinthians 2:16 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?
2 Corinthians 2:16 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?
2 Corinthians 2:16 esv
to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?
2 Corinthians 2:16 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?
2 Corinthians 2 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 8:21 | And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. And the Lord said in His heart, "... no longer curse the ground for man's sake." | Noah's sacrifice, a pleasing aroma to God. |
| Lev 1:9 | ... the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. | Sacrifices as a sweet aroma to God. |
| Deut 30:19 | I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life... | Choice between life and death offered by God. |
| Psa 1:6 | For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish. | Dual destiny for righteous and ungodly. |
| Prov 11:19 | As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. | Actions leading to life or death. |
| Isa 8:14-15 | He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel... | Christ as a source of offense to unbelievers. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish... | God's word is always effective, achieving its purpose. |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. | Belief leading to life, non-belief to perishing. |
| John 3:18 | He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already... | Judgment based on belief/unbelief. |
| John 5:24 | ... He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. | Transition from death to life through belief. |
| John 12:47-48 | And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge... The word that I have spoken will judge him. | Words of Christ bringing judgment to those who reject. |
| Acts 13:46 | ... "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it... behold, we turn to the Gentiles." | Rejection of the Word leads to loss of opportunity. |
| Acts 17:32 | And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter." | Mixed responses to the gospel message. |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... | Gospel as God's power for salvation. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Contrast of death (sin's result) and life (God's gift). |
| Rom 9:33 | As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." | Christ as a stumbling block to some, a firm foundation to others. |
| 1 Cor 1:23-24 | ...we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God... | Christ is foolishness or a stumbling block to some, but power and wisdom to believers. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase... So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. | Ministry efficacy depends on God, not humans. |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient... | Direct parallel to "who is sufficient?" showing God's provision. |
| Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. | Christ's sacrifice as a fragrant offering to God. |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | Believers' sufficiency comes through Christ. |
| Phil 4:18 | Indeed I have all and abound... a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. | Righteous deeds and generosity as an acceptable aroma to God. |
| 1 Pet 2:7-8 | Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient... "A stone which the builders rejected... A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." | Christ is precious to believers but a stumbling block to unbelievers. |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit... | The word of God penetrates and reveals, bringing distinction. |
2 Corinthians 2 verses
2 Corinthians 2 16 Meaning
The verse conveys that the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel has two profoundly contrasting outcomes: to those who believe, it is a fragrance of life leading to eternal life; but to those who reject it, it becomes an odor of death leading to eternal spiritual separation from God. This profound responsibility of ministering such a weighty message leads Paul to humbly question, "And who is sufficient for these things?", indicating that only God can empower and sustain one in such a momentous calling.
2 Corinthians 2 16 Context
This verse is situated within Paul's defense of his apostolic ministry and his explanation for a recent change in travel plans (2 Cor 1:15-2:13). After expressing joy for the Corinthians' repentance and forgiveness for an offending brother, Paul declares that God "always leads us in triumph in Christ" (2 Cor 2:14). This introduces the vivid imagery of a Roman Triumphal Procession. In such processions, the victorious general would parade his captives, and incense would be burned along the route. For the conquerors and citizens, the pervasive scent signified victory, celebration, and life; but for the captives, especially those destined for execution, it signaled their impending doom and death. Paul appropriates this well-known cultural event to illustrate the two distinct responses to the Gospel message that he and his co-workers carry. The aroma is the same—the Gospel—but its effect is entirely dependent on the spiritual state and response of the hearers. Immediately following this verse, Paul addresses the source of his "sufficiency," affirming it comes from God, not himself, and linking this ministry to the "new covenant" (2 Cor 3:4-6).
2 Corinthians 2 16 Word analysis
- To the one... and to the other: These phrases introduce the two distinct groups of people who receive the same message. There is no neutral ground; the Gospel, by its nature, demands a definitive response, leading to one of two ultimate outcomes.
- we are: Paul is speaking of himself and his fellow apostles/ministers. They embody and carry the message; their very presence and proclamation of the Gospel serve as this "aroma."
- the aroma (Greek: ὀσμή - osmē): This word signifies a scent or fragrance. In the Old Testament (Septuagint), osmē often refers to the "sweet aroma" of sacrifices that were pleasing to God (e.g., Gen 8:21, Ex 29:18). Here, it shifts focus: it's not the aroma pleasing God directly, but an aroma that profoundly affects its recipients. Its immediate context, following the "triumphal procession" imagery (2 Cor 2:14), ties it directly to the incense burned during Roman triumphs, which had a different meaning for the victors versus the captives.
- of death leading to death (Greek: θανάτου εἰς θάνατον - thanatou eis thanaton): The "aroma" of the Gospel acts as a fatal scent for those who reject Christ. The first "death" refers to spiritual death—separation from God now. The phrase "leading to death" (εἰς θάνατον) signifies the ultimate and eternal consequence: perpetual separation from God in final judgment. It emphasizes a complete and irreversible spiritual trajectory.
- and to the other the aroma of life leading to life (Greek: ζωῆς εἰς ζωήν - zōēs eis zōēn): Conversely, for those who receive the Gospel, it is a fragrance that vitalizes. The first "life" denotes spiritual life and communion with God received through faith in Christ in the present. "Leading to life" (εἰς ζωήν) points to eternal life and blessed communion with God forever. It underscores a profound and ongoing spiritual journey of renewal.
- And who is sufficient (Greek: καὶ πρὸς ταῦτα τίς ἱκανός; - kai pros tauta tis hikanos): This is a rhetorical question, expressing deep humility and recognition of the immense, almost overwhelming, nature of such ministry. "Sufficient" (ἱκανός - hikanos) means adequate, competent, or capable. Paul implies that no human, relying on their own abilities or wisdom, can truly handle such a consequential mission. It implicitly points to the divine source of true sufficiency.
- for these things: This refers to the colossal responsibility of bearing a message with such eternally opposite outcomes—the aroma that signifies either ultimate life or ultimate death for all who encounter it. It underscores the gravity of proclaiming the Gospel.
2 Corinthians 2 16 Bonus section
The contrast presented in this verse serves as a crucial reminder to all who proclaim the Gospel of its inherent seriousness and divine authority. The "aroma" imagery is complex: while it is literally a scent, metaphorically it encompasses the entire message, life, and presence of those who carry Christ's message. It underlines that simply hearing the Gospel results in a spiritual transformation or deepening condemnation; there is no status quo. Furthermore, Paul's humility in asking "who is sufficient?" prepares the ground for his subsequent teaching in 2 Corinthians 3 about the new covenant and the ministry of the Spirit, where he explicitly states, "Our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor 3:5). This underscores that the success and eternal fruit of ministry are entirely dependent on God's power working through His chosen, though inadequate, vessels. The faithful minister’s role is to faithfully proclaim; the response and resulting outcome belong to the Lord.
2 Corinthians 2 16 Commentary
Paul, in 2 Corinthians 2:16, paints a profound and sobering picture of Gospel ministry using the vivid metaphor of a Roman triumphal procession. The "aroma" represents the pervasive influence of the Gospel, not just a sweet smell but an active, impactful force. Crucially, the verse teaches that the Gospel is never neutral in its effect; it fundamentally separates people into two categories based on their response. To those who embrace Christ, it imparts spiritual vitality, leading to eternal communion with God. However, for those who harden their hearts and refuse its life-giving call, the very same Gospel becomes a confirmation of their spiritual deadness, sealing their eternal separation from God. This duality is not due to any inherent flaw in the Gospel itself, which is always life-giving, but rather to the predisposition of the hearer. This immense reality compels Paul to cry out, "who is sufficient for these things?" His rhetorical question is not one of despair but of absolute reliance on God. It emphasizes that no human can bear such a responsibility by their own might, skill, or wisdom. The power, efficacy, and the resulting eternal destinies lie entirely in the hands of God, and ministry, therefore, must be undertaken in utter dependence on Him alone.