12 Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord , 13 I had no rest for my spirit , not finding Titus my brother ; but taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia .
14 But thanks be to God , who always leads us in triumph in Christ , and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place . 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing ; 16 to the one an aroma from death to death , to the other an aroma from life to life . And who is adequate for these things ? 17 For we are not like many , peddling the word of God , but as from sincerity , but as from God , we speak in Christ in the sight of God .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
(Read 2 Corinthians 2:12-17)
A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of life unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impressions this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God. But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is not of God, does not come from him, and will not reach to him. May we carefully watch ourselves in this matter; and seek the testimony of our consciences, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that as of sincerity, so speak we in Christ and of Christ.