14 But thanks be to God,(A) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma(B) of the knowledge(C) of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma(D) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.(E) 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death;(F) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?(G) 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.(H) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,(I) as those sent from God.(J)

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14 But thanks be to God! He always leads us triumphantly by the Messiah[a] and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of knowing him. 15 To God we are the aroma of the Messiah[b] among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. 16 To some people we are a deadly fragrance,[c] while to others we are a living fragrance.[d] Who is qualified for this? 17 At least we are not commercializing God’s word like so many others. Instead, we speak with sincerity in the Messiah’s[e] name,[f] like people who are sent from God and are accountable to God.[g]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 2:14 Or Christ
  2. 2 Corinthians 2:15 Or Christ
  3. 2 Corinthians 2:16 Lit. a fragrance of death to death
  4. 2 Corinthians 2:16 Lit. a fragrance of life to life
  5. 2 Corinthians 2:17 Or Christ’s
  6. 2 Corinthians 2:17 The Gk. lacks name
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:17 Lit. as from God and before God