A Savor of Life and Death 2 Corinthians 2:16

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth, “we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish”, and in chapter two and verse sixteen of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members how he and his companions are, “the savor of death...and the savor of life”, where we read:

To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life.

And who is sufficient for these things?

The verse begins, “To the one we are the savor of death unto death;” Paul began with the words, “to the one” which means “to the certain one truly, surely and indeed” “we are the savor” which refers to “Paul, his companions and the church members being the fragrance or odor” “of death” or “that separation, whether natural or violent, of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended” “unto death” which means “toward that separation, whether natural or violent, of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”. Paul proclaimed he and his companions' “fragrance” was a reminder of “death” to those who were unbelievers in Jesus, going to “die” and thereby be separated from God.

The verse continues, “and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” Paul added the words, “and to the other” which means “toward the other certain one who believes in Jesus” “the savor” which means “the fragrance or odor” “of life” or “the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature” “unto life” or “toward the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature”. “And who” or “what certain person” “is sufficient” which means “enough and has ability to meet” “for these things” or “near to, towards and in regard to the same savor unto life or death”. As Paul knew he and his companions' lives were going to affect those who were “dying” and “separated from God”, he also knew they would have an effect upon those who were believers in Jesus. He further questioned rhetorically, who is able to carry this responsibility?.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how he knew he and his companions would have an effect upon both believers and non-believers in Jesus. The “fragrance” of Christ would affect them, and whether they were believers unto “life” or non-believers “unto death”, Paul and his companions exuded the presence of Christ. We should learn from Paul and his companions' ways. Others are watching us, and whether they are “believers” in Jesus or not, our lives affect them. May the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit lead us to live in a manner that His “fragrance” falls upon everyone we meet.

Next time Paul tells the church members when he “we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.