2 Corinthians 2:12-17: a reflection

12Now when I came to Troas for the Good News of Christ, and when a door was opened to me in the Lord, 13I had no relief for my spirit, because I didn’t find Titus my brother, but taking my leave of them, I went out into Macedonia. 14Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. 15For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God in those who are being saved and in those who perish: 16to the one a stench from death to death, to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not as so many, peddling the word of God. But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, we speak in Christ.

Paul gives thanks to God who leads his people in triumph in Christ and spreads through them the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere they go. Thanks be to God, he says, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God. Paul pictures believers as carriers of a fragrance, the aroma of Christ, spread wherever they go; through them, the knowledge of Christ is diffused like a sweet scent, reaching others. Wherever we go, we can spread the fragrance of Christ, the knowledge of him, by our lives. We are carriers of the fragrance of Christ wherever we go. Through us, the knowledge of Christ spreads like a sweet aroma. We spread the fragrance of Christ by our lives. We are the aroma of Christ, diffused wherever we go.

Notice the image Paul uses: believers as a fragrance, the aroma of Christ, spread everywhere they go. Just as a sweet scent fills a room and reaches everyone in it, so, Paul says, God spreads through his people the knowledge of Christ, like a fragrance, in every place they go. We are the aroma of Christ, carriers of his knowledge, diffusing something of him wherever we are. This is a beautiful and encouraging picture of the Christian life. We may not think of ourselves as doing anything dramatic; but simply by living as those who belong to Christ, by our lives and words and love, we spread the fragrance of him, the knowledge of him, to those around us. Wherever we go, we carry something of Christ, and it reaches others like a scent. This gives meaning and dignity to our ordinary presence in the world: we are the aroma of Christ, spreading the knowledge of him wherever we go, led by God in triumph in Christ. Simply living for Christ spreads the fragrance of him to others. We carry and diffuse the knowledge of Christ wherever we are. Our lives can be the aroma of Christ to those around us. God spreads the fragrance of Christ through his people.

That is worth taking to heart, for we are the aroma of Christ, and through us God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever we go. We may think we do nothing significant for Christ; but Paul says God leads us in triumph in Christ and spreads through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. Simply living for Christ diffuses his fragrance to others. Wherever you go, know that you carry the fragrance of Christ, spreading the knowledge of him by your life. Know that wherever you go you carry the fragrance of Christ, spreading the knowledge of him to those around you, as Paul gave thanks to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place, so that we are a sweet aroma of Christ; for we may not think of ourselves as doing anything dramatic, but simply by living as those who belong to Christ, by our lives and words and love, we spread the fragrance of him and the knowledge of him to those around us, diffusing something of Christ wherever we are like a sweet scent that fills a room, and this gives meaning and dignity to our ordinary presence in the world, so that we can live wherever we are as carriers of the aroma of Christ, led by God in triumph in him.

Lord, Paul gives thanks to you who lead your people in triumph in Christ and spread through them the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ everywhere they go. Thanks be to God, he says, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God. Paul pictures believers as carriers of a fragrance, the aroma of Christ, spread wherever they go; through them, the knowledge of Christ is diffused like a sweet scent, reaching others. Wherever I go, I can spread the fragrance of Christ, the knowledge of him, by my life. Show me the image Paul uses: believers as a fragrance, the aroma of Christ, spread everywhere they go. Just as a sweet scent fills a room and reaches everyone in it, so you spread through your people the knowledge of Christ, like a fragrance, in every place they go. I am the aroma of Christ, a carrier of his knowledge, diffusing something of him wherever I am. This is a beautiful and encouraging picture of the Christian life. I may not think of myself as doing anything dramatic; but simply by living as one who belongs to Christ, by my life and words and love, I spread the fragrance of him to those around me. This gives meaning and dignity to my ordinary presence in the world. Take that to my heart, for I am the aroma of Christ, and through me you spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ wherever I go. When I think I do nothing significant for Christ, help me remember that simply living for him diffuses his fragrance to others, Lord; wherever I go, let me carry the fragrance of Christ, spreading the knowledge of him by my life, led by you in triumph in him.