2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Apostolic Ministry

2:14 But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession ¹  in Christ ²  and who makes known ³  through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. 2:15 For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing – 2:16 to the latter an odor ⁴  from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? ⁵  2:17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, ⁶  but we are speaking in Christ before ⁷  God as persons of sincerity, ⁸  as persons sent from God.

[2:14]  ¹ tn Or “who always causes us to triumph.”

[2:14]  ² tn Or “in the Messiah.”

[2:14]  ³ tn Or “who reveals.”

[2:16]  ⁴ tn The same Greek word (ὀσμή, osmh) translated “odor” here (in relation to the stench of death) has been translated “fragrance” in 2:14 and in the next phrase of the present verse. The word itself can describe a smell or odor either agreeable or disagreeable depending on the context (L&N 79.45).

[2:16]  ⁵ sn These things refer to the things Paul is doing in his apostolic ministry.

[2:17]  ⁶ tn The participle καπηλεύοντες (kaphleuonte") refers to those engaged in retail business, but with the negative connotations of deceptiveness and greed – “to peddle for profit,” “to huckster” (L&N 57.202). In the translation a noun form (“hucksters”) has been used in combination with the English verb “peddle…for profit” to convey the negative connotations of this term.

[2:17]  ⁷ tn Or “in the presence of.”

[2:17]  ⁸ tn Or “persons of pure motives.”