2 Corinthians 2:14-17
New English Translation
Apostolic Ministry
14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession[a] in Christ[b] and who makes known[c] through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing— 16 to the latter an odor[d] from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?[e] 17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit,[f] but we are speaking in Christ before[g] God as persons of sincerity,[h] as persons sent from God.
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- 2 Corinthians 2:14 tn Or “who always causes us to triumph.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 tn Or “in the Messiah.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:14 tn Or “who reveals.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 tn The same Greek word (ὀσμή, osmē) translated “odor” here (in relation to the stench of death) has been translated “fragrance” in 2:14 and in the next phrase of the present verse. The word itself can describe a smell or odor either agreeable or disagreeable depending on the context (L&N 79.45).
- 2 Corinthians 2:16 sn These things refer to the things Paul is doing in his apostolic ministry.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 tn The participle καπηλεύοντες (kapēleuontes) refers to those engaged in retail business, but with the negative connotations of deceptiveness and greed—“to peddle for profit,” “to huckster” (L&N 57.202). In the translation a noun form (“hucksters”) has been used in combination with the English verb “peddle…for profit” to convey the negative connotations of this term.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 tn Or “in the presence of.”
- 2 Corinthians 2:17 tn Or “persons of pure motives.”
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
Common English Bible
14 But thank God, who is always leading us around through Christ as if we were in a parade. He releases the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere through us. 15 We smell like the aroma of Christ’s offering to God, both to those who are being saved and to those who are on the road to destruction. 16 We smell like a contagious dead person to those who are dying, but we smell like the fountain of life to those who are being saved.
Who is qualified for this kind of ministry? 17 We aren’t like so many people who hustle the word of God to make a profit. We are speaking through Christ in the presence of God, as those who are sincere and as those who are sent from God.
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