Add parallel Print Page Options

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.[a] 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:(A) 16 to the one group a fragrance from death[b] to death, to the other a fragrance from life[c] to life. Who is qualified for these things?(B) 17 For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many,[d] but as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God, we are speaking in Christ before God.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2.14 Gk the fragrance of the knowledge of him
  2. 2.16 Other ancient authorities read fragrance of death that leads
  3. 2.16 Other ancient authorities read fragrance of life that leads
  4. 2.17 Other ancient authorities read like the rest

Ministers of the New Covenant

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?

17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters[a] who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2:17 Some manuscripts read the rest of the hucksters.