¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(A) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^(B)

² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us^(A) and gave himself up for us^(B) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(C)

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness^(A) to those who are perishing,^(B) but to us who are being saved^(C) it is the power of God.^(D)

⁴¹ I will accept you as fragrant incense^(A) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(B) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(C) through you in the sight of the nations.^(D)

¹⁸ I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(A) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(B) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

³ And even if our gospel^(A) is veiled,^(B) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^{(C) 4} The god^(D) of this age^(E) has blinded^(F) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(G) who is the image of God.^(H)

¹⁰ and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.^(A) They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.^(B)

²¹ The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma^(A) and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground^(B) because of humans, even though^[a] every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood.^(C) And never again will I destroy^(D) all living creatures,^(E) as I have done.

²⁵ Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a food offering presented to the Lord.^(A)