ACC ~ 2 Corinthians 2 v12 - 17

OVERVIEW:

Without Titus’s presence Paul found the work in Troas almost unbearable, since there was so much opposition to him (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM, THEODORET OF CYR), so he went on to Macedonia. Although the persecution there seemed like a disgrace, it was a great honor (EUSEBIUS, CHRYSOSTOM, AMBROSIASTER). As an aroma is sensed rather than seen (PELAGIUS), so is the knowledge of God’s grace (AMBROSIASTER), which has a sweet savor (CHRYSOSTOM). So put an altar of incense in your innermost heart (CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, ORIGEN). To unbelievers the cross has the smell of death, but to believers it is the fragrance of life (AMBROSIASTER, CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE). Paul refused to imitate false peddlers of God’s word who claimed rewards instead of offering the free gift of salvation. He spoke not by his own wisdom but by the power that comes from Christ (CHRYSOSTOM).

2:12 | A Door Opened for the Gospel

A DOOR WAS OPENED. AMBROSIASTER: Paul means that when he got to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, there were people who received the message. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

NOT THE TIME TO SAY MORE. DIDYMUS THE BLIND: In Acts [16:9] it says that a man of Macedonia appeared to Paul in a dream and asked him to come over and help them. Paul does not mention this incident in his letter, evidently because he realized that this was not the right time to say such things about himself. PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH.

THE FRAGRANCE OF LIFE AND DEATH. AUGUSTINE: And again, in his second letter to the Corinthians, the same apostle says, “When I had come to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and a door was opened to me in the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother, but bidding them farewell, I went into Macedonia.” To whom did he declare farewell except to those who had believed, that is to say, to those in whose hearts a door was opened for him to preach the gospel? But note well what he adds: “Now thanks be to God, who always makes us triumph in Christ and manifests the aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved and in those who perish; to some indeed the odor of death to death but to others the fragrance of life to life.” Behold why this most intrepid soldier, this most invincible defender of grace, gives thanks. Behold why he gives thanks—that the apostles are the good odor of Christ to God, both in those who are saved by his grace and in those who perish in virtue of his judgment. PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS 20.41.

2:13 | Going On to Macedonia

WORK AND OPPOSITION. AMBROSIASTER: Lacking the consolation of Titus’s presence Paul found the work unbearable, because there was so much opposition to him. For although some people had opened their hearts and accepted the Word of God, there were many unbelievers who reacted with impudent hostility. One lone voice could not teach the new believers and fend off these attacks at the same time. Therefore Paul said goodbye to those who had received him and left for Macedonia. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

TITUS’S ABSENCE. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul did not say that the absence of Titus hindered the salvation of those who were about to convert, nor that he neglected them for this reason, but that he continued to be concerned for Titus, showing thereby how serious a matter a brother’s absence is. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.1.

HIS CONCERN FOR TITUS. THEODORET OF CYR: Paul mentions Titus here for a purpose. Since he was the one who took the letter to Corinth, Paul wanted the church there to appreciate his worth. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 299.

2:14 | Christ Leads Us in Triumph

CHRIST IS ALWAYS AHEAD OF US. AMBROSIASTER: For God to lead us in triumph in Christ is to make us victors in the faith of Christ, so that when unbelief has been trodden underfoot, faith may have its trophy. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

THANKS BE TO GOD. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul was in constant affliction everywhere he went, but this did not draw him into despair. On the contrary, he rejoiced and gave thanks, because although persecution might seem like a disgrace, in fact it was a very great honor. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.1.

COURAGE TESTED. EUSEBIUS: A whole band of soldiers, Ammon and Zeno and Ptolemy and Ingenuus, and with them an old man Theophilus, had taken their stand before the tribunal. When a certain man was being tried as a Christian and was inclined toward denying the faith, they, standing by, gnashed their teeth, and made signs with their faces, and stretched out their hands and gestured with their bodies. When the attention of all was directed toward them, before any could otherwise seize them, they rushed up first to the bench, saying that they were Christians, so that the governor and his assessors became fearful. Those who were being tried appeared most courageous in the face of what they were about to suffer, while their judges were afraid. And these paraded from the court and rejoiced in their testimony, as God “led them in triumph gloriously.” ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 6.41.

SWEET-SMELLING SERVICE. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: By washing the feet of his disciples with his own hands as he sent them forth to noble deeds, the Savior manifested in an excellent way their journeying to bestow graces upon the nations. He purified that journeying in anticipation by his own power. The perfume left its aroma after it and suggests the sweet-smelling accomplishments that reach everyone. The suffering of the Lord, indeed, has filled us with its fragrance. CHRIST THE EDUCATOR 2.7.63.

2:15 | The Aroma of Christ

A SWEET AROMA OF CHRIST. ORIGEN: Put an altar of incense in your innermost heart. Be a sweet aroma of Christ. HOMILIES ON EXODUS 9.

TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IS AROMATIC. AMBROSIASTER: The aroma of the knowledge of God comes from Christ and through Christ. The reason why Paul said “aroma” was this: Some things are recognized by their smell, even though they are invisible. God, who is invisible, wishes to be understood through Christ. The preaching of Christ reaches our ears just as an aroma reaches our nostrils, bringing God and his only begotten Son right into the midst of his creation. A person who speaks the truth about Christ is just such a good aroma from God, worthy of praise from the one who believes. But one who makes erroneous assertions about Christ has a bad smell to believers and unbelievers alike. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

A FRAGRANCE SENSED. PELAGIUS: Paul calls the knowledge of God an aroma. Its presence is sensed rather than seen. COMMENTARY ON THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 2.

THE GOSPEL HAS A SWEET SAVOR. CHRYSOSTOM: Whether a person is saved or lost, the gospel continues to have its own power. The light, even when it blinds someone, is still light. Honey, though it is bitter to those who are sick, is still sweet. So also the gospel has a sweet savor to all, even if those who do not believe it are lost. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.2.

A MINISTRY OF DEATH. AUGUSTINE: Why, then, if the law is good, is it called a “ministry of death”? Because “sin, that it might be shown to be sin, worked death for me through that which is good.” Do not marvel when it is said of the preaching of the gospel, “We are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in them that are being saved and in them who perish, to the one an aroma of life to life, to the other an aroma of death to death.” Now the law is called a “ministry of death” to the Jews, for whom it was written on stone, to symbolize their hardness of heart. But this does not apply to those who fulfill the law in charity. For charity is the fulfillment of the law. TO SIMPLICIAN—ON VARIOUS QUESTIONS 1.17.

THE SAME FRAGRANCE, DIFFERENT RESPONSES. ORIGEN: For, as the apostle says, “We are a good aroma of Christ,” but he adds, “To some a fragrance of life to life, but to others an odor of death to death.” So also the prophetic word is “a sweet fragrance” to those who believe, but to the doubting and unbelieving and those who confess that they are Pharaoh’s people, it becomes a detestable odor. HOMILIES ON EXODUS 3.

2:16 | Fragrance of Death or Life

THE SMELL OF DEATH TO UNBELIEVERS. AMBROSIASTER: To unbelievers the preaching of the cross is the smell of death. On hearing the Word of God they receive it as if it were a plague from which death knocks on the door. But to others it is the fragrance of life. To believers the Word of God is a messenger of eternal life. It affects them in accordance with their faith. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

TO CORRECT AND TO DESTROY. CHRYSOSTOM: If anyone is lost he has only himself to blame. Soothing ointment is said to suffocate pigs. Light is blinding to the weak. It is in the nature of good things not only to correct what is close to them but also to destroy the opposite, and in this way their power is displayed. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.3.

PUNISHMENT AND COMFORT. AUGUSTINE: Through an evil man divine providence can both punish and comfort. For the impiety of the Jews was the Jews’ downfall and yet provided salvation for the Gentiles. Again, divine providence through a good man can both condemn and help, as the apostle says: “To some we are the scent of life to life, but to others we are the scent of death to death.” But every tribulation is either a punishment of the impious or a testing of the just. … Further, peace and quiet from disruptive times can both profit the good and corrupt the evil. QUESTIONS 27.

2:17 | Commissioned by God

NOT PEDDLERS OF GOD’S WORD. AMBROSIASTER: Paul is alluding to various false apostles who used to corrupt the Word of God through bad interpretation. Some of them were so zealous for Jewish tradition that they did not teach properly about Christ. COMMENTARY ON PAUL’S EPISTLES.

SPEAKING IN CHRIST. CHRYSOSTOM: Paul will not imitate the false apostles, who claim rewards for themselves. For corruption occurs when one sells for money what one ought to give freely. Paul speaks in Christ, not by his own wisdom but by the power which comes from him. HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS 5.3.