¹⁵ For we are a ^(A)fragrance of Christ to God among ^(B)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ^16 (C)to the one an ^[a]aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is ^(D)adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many, ^[b](E)peddling the word of God, but ^(F)as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ ^(G)in the sight of God.

³ And even if our ^(A)gospel is ^(B)veiled, it is veiled ^[a]to ^(C)those who are perishing, ⁴ in whose case ^(D)the god of ^(E)this ^[b]world has ^(F)blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that ^[c]they will not see the ^(G)light of the gospel of the ^(H)glory of Christ, who is the ^(I)image of God.

¹⁸ Now ^(A)all these things are from God, ^(B)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(C)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(D)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(E)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[a]He has ^[b]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(F)ambassadors for Christ, ^(G)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(H)reconciled to God.

^14 (A)Do not be ^[a]mismatched with ^(B)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness ^(C)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? ¹⁵ Or what ^(D)harmony does Christ have with ^[b]Belial, or ^[c]what does a ^(E)believer share with an ^(F)unbeliever? ¹⁶ Or ^(G)what agreement does ^[d]the temple of God have with idols? For we are ^[e](H)the temple of ^(I)the living God; just as God said,

¹³ For such men are ^(A)false apostles, ^(B)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even ^(C)Satan disguises himself as an ^(D)angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(E)whose end will be according to their deeds.

^5 (A)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(B)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^[a](C)fail the test?