2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 The Aroma of Christ

This week we continue to explore Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. Over the past few weeks we’ve heard that the second letter is likely more the third letter and that somewhere in between these letters sits a very painful visit.

This morning Paul has begun his direct address - to the concerns raised by the visit of the super-apostles; what are Paul’s credentials as an apostle?

We will look at the two key images he uses to address this in today’s verses - firstly the aroma of Christ and secondly the letters of recommendation.

Join with me in pulling your Bibles out as we dive into 2 Corinthians 2, beginning at verse 14.

“But thanks be to God,”
It’s Sunday morning – and we’re here together, thanks be to God! What a great way to kick off an exploration of God’s word – thankfulness… and because I’m a Chaplain – turn to the person next to you and tell them one thing you are thankful for this morning. Could be the snow, the cold, the heater in the car, that you are well – anything.

So what are we thankful for this morning. 

Paul continues “But thanks be to God, (amen!), who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.” 

Triumphal procession – such wording! To be fair in 2020 we don’t live in a world where there are many triumphal processions. So it’s no wonder if your brain just went “whaaaat?” and switched off.

Let’s try and bring your brain back on board – how many of you know this Dr Seuss book? And to think that I saw this on mulberry street? It’s visually loud, it gets busier with every page -  there is a lot going on in one street!

The Greek word for lead in triumphal procession – Thri-am-beu-onti - only occurs in the New Testament once. It’s not an image or an idea picked up by the early Christian Church, it’s not rooted in the Hebrew scriptures. It’s a culturally Greek term. Paul has taken this Greek word from the context of his day, an image that was very Roman and would have been well known in a Roman city such as Corinth.

The idea is this - a conquering Roman army would triumphantly process across the city to a pagan Temple. In the lead would be images or displays of the victorious battle, evidence of the plunder- gold. Then would come the defeated general or King who would look dejected and would often have to re-enact his defeat. Then came the defeated households, chained together and throwing incense about – often cinnamon. Then would come the conquering General, clothed in purple and adorned in victorious gold. The procession would end with the slaughtering of all the captives at or outside the pagan Temple.

Immediately we are drawn into recalling the gospel message – that Christ has won a victory over the powers of sin and death. That God, unlike the pomp and ceremony of the Romans, is the victorious one. The one who decides and determines the world order. Yet in the context of this passage, is Paul claiming to be on the winning side?

This would certainly quieten his accusers – power and success were confirmation of victory and favour as much in Paul’s day as they are today. But this is very anti Paul – on many occasions he boasts in his weakness, he claims he is a slave to Christ. So what is the image Paul is conveying?

Paul is conveying that he is a slave, one of the captives being led to his death.
His weakness on display and paraded. Like Jesus being mocked before his crucifixion we hear a clear defence from Paul that those who follow a persecuted Messiah are indeed persecuted. In the gospel of John Jesus announced “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Often we shy away from this. It’s easier to be liked. It’s easier to go with the majority. But there is a deep challenge in how we view persecution for the Church in Corinth and for us today.

“and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

Paul’s life, his suffering, his persecution – is given as an opportunity for others to know God. Think back to the lockdown. How many of us tried out the lockdown loaf? Or baking? The smell wafted about the house announcing to all within its walls that food would soon be on offer. Likewise Paul’s imagery of the fragrance of the knowledge of God is that it spreads out everywhere.

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,

The followers of Christ point back to Christ. Paul and the church in Corinth are to announce through their whole being the sweet smell of God, as are we. I wonder how are we the aroma of Christ in our contexts? Our families, our homes, our workplaces? How do our lives waft the aroma of Christ?

Let’s not pretend that this aroma is easy. The aroma of loving God above all else, of loving our neighbour as ourselves - the message of our lives is to those who respond – life, for those who reject, death - “regardless, the pleasant or odious smell is determined by the recipient not the source.” As Paul says to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”

Who is sufficient for these things? Asks Paul - no one!! 

17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Paul directly takes a stab at his opposition. They are “peddling” God’s word – that is cheapening the product for their own gain – selling the gospel for themselves through their ministry. In contrast men of sincerity – Paul and his companions – are commissioned by God. They, like the 11 apostles, are commissioned by God for the work of God. 

Acknowledging that perhaps his humility is being lost in his defence – Paul begins chapter three by asking “are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?”

Letters of recommendation in the first century were the equivalent of a Facebook stalk, or a referee check. When a new preacher came to town they would bring with them letters of recommendation from other Churches and eventually leave with letters from the current Church. This would ensure they were cared for and that their teachings could be confirmed by a governing body – often the Church in Jerusalem. 

Again Paul is directly addressing his accusers. These Super apostles needed letters to enter the Church “as some do” but rightly Paul refutes such an idea in verse 2 by saying “You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.”

The Church in Corinth exists how? Because of Paul. No matter the differing theological factions within the Church - the Church only exists because of Paul. It would be ludicrous then to get the Church that only exists because of him to need a letter to recommend him, or a letter from them. 

In addition, a letter of recommendation would be carried by Paul, not the Corinthians. Like a letter from a loved one it would be close to his heart and it would be able to be read by anyone who requested it. Like someone’s life – it would be on show for all to see. 

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Paul reminds the Church that they know Christ and proclaim Christ because of him and his companions. That their conversion was not simply a set of words or a prayer but that the Spirit of God resides within them. Like Ezekiel 34 “but I will turn your hearts of stone into hearts of flesh” and Jeremiah 31:33  where God will “write his law on their hearts.” The Spirit of God dwells in them – and what could be a truer confirmation of his apostleship than that! Contrasting the idea of the law written on tablets – to the Spirit dwelling in believers hearts - Paul asserts that his ministry is valid. That his apostleship is true and that the Church is the very proof of the Spirit of God being ministered through Paul.

For us today I think Paul’s words to the church in Corinth are really encouraging. We can be encouraged to be an aroma for Christ in our contexts. To use our whole lives to proclaim life and when we face persecution for the sake of Christ we can be encouraged that we are not alone. We follow a suffering saviour. Like those who have gone before us we can be encouraged to be who we claim to be, the spirit of God dwells in us. Our credentials are the Spirit. The work of the Spirit an aroma spread throughout our lives for everyone to see. 

Amen.