{"id":52801,"date":"2023-01-23T15:44:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T23:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=52801"},"modified":"2023-01-26T09:33:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T17:33:46","slug":"a-fragrance-of-life-or-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/a-fragrance-of-life-or-death\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fragrance of Life or Death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We wouldn\u2019t normally think of describing ourselves as possessing a particular fragrance or aroma when it comes to the effect we have on those we rub shoulders with. The senses that get most of the attention in the Bible are seeing, tasting, and hearing. But smelling? That doesn\u2019t show up as much (see Genesis 8:21<\/a>; Lev. 1:9<\/a>, 13<\/a>, 17<\/a> for examples though). However, Paul uses this metaphor in 2 Corinthians 2:14\u201317<\/a> to describe his own ministry as an ambassador for Christ. Let\u2019s look at this passage with some help from the commentary series, God\u2019s Word for You<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Come and Join the Parade<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you ever wake up in the morning and say to yourself \u201cI really don\u2019t think I can do this\u201d? You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of what you have to get through. Self-doubt may be plaguing you. Or it may be even worse than that\u2014you may be grappling with a deep sense of self-loathing. You know that you are a hypocrite and a fraud. And you have a gnawing suspicion that it\u2019s only a matter of time before you are exposed. It\u2019s a Christian version of what psychologists call \u201cimposter syndrome\u201d. Whatever the particular flavour of your insecurities, I suspect that most believers, if not all of us, question from time to time whether we have what it takes for life as an authentic, selfless follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. And if that\u2019s you, then let me tell you that we\u2019re in good company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we want to set ourselves up to keep pressing on and serving Jesus wholeheartedly for the long haul, then this passage is the ideal place to start. In this section, through Paul, God gives us three reasons why we do not need to be ashamed, embarrassed or crippled by self-doubt, fear or even shame, but can get on with serving Christ by speaking the gospel, come what may.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God Speaks through Us when We Speak the Gospel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The key question for Paul is right at the heart of this paragraph in verse 16<\/a>: \u201cwho is sufficient for these things?\u201d The surprising thing is that Paul\u2019s answer isn\u2019t \u201cnobody\u201d, but \u201cwe are\u201d! And how can he say that? Because of the power of the gospel. Our sufficiency, our adequacy, our qualification for the task has nothing to do with us, thank God, but it flows from the fact that God himself speaks through his words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the travelling philosophers, who could make a healthy income by charging for their \u201cservices\u201d when they came to town, Paul insists that he (along with his companions, and by extension, all servants of Christ) speak as \u201cmen of sincerity, as commissioned by God\u201d (v 17<\/a>). Paul spells out the reason for this distinctive approach at the end of verse 17<\/a>: \u201din the sight of God we speak in Christ\u201d. Speaking before God, in Christ\u2014speaking in a way which is marked by the sincerity that comes from knowing we are accountable to God, and by the depth of insight and knowledge that comes to us through our union with Christ\u2014is what makes inadequate people like us adequate for this task. Paul describes this insight by describing the Roman victory parade in verses 14-16<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Triumphal Procession<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Paul paints a picture of the familiar splendour of a Roman pompa triumphalis<\/em>, the victory parade granted to particularly successful generals. Graeco-Roman literature records over 300 of these events. Most commentators and translations agree that this is what this passage is referring to. What isn\u2019t so clear is where we fit into this scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were seven key components in most of these processions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n