The Fragrance of Christ
—2Corinthians 2
In this chapter for study, (2Corinthians 2), Paul reflected on a stressful period in his ministry, when a member of the Corinthian church openly opposed him, and the congregation at first failed to discipline the offender. This man caused serious pain both to the church and to Paul. After the man repented, Paul urged the church to forgive him, comfort him, and reaffirm their love so he would not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Paul himself was restless and anxious because he could not find Titus at Troas, so he travelled on to Macedonia without a companion and without news from Corinth. Nevertheless, Paul regarded the whole experience as a triumph of Christ.
1 A Bid for Joy
2Cor 2, Verses 1-2
Paul decided in his heart not to make another painful visit to the brethren at Corinth because such a visit would only produce more sorrow instead of joy, both for Paul and for them. Cause people needless grief, and they will hardly return joy. Paul wanted his next encounter with them to be marked by joy, not grief.
2 A Letter was Better
2Cor 2, Verses 3-4
Since Paul would not be visiting Corinth, instead he wrote a letter (now lost) to instruct the church on how to deal with the offender. He wrote the letter with anguish and "many tears" Paul aimed to let his abundant love for them do its work, to bring about joy for Paul himself, for the church, and for the offender.
Note:— Was the offender in 2Corinthians 2 the same person as the immoral man in 1Corinthians 5 ? Arguments for both yes and no are not strong. If it was one person, then both chapters together provide the complete story. (1) There was a sin tolerated at first by the church; (2) Paul opposed this and the church was grieved; (3) discipline was applied later; (4) the result was repentance; (5) allowing restoration of the sinner and a welcome back.
3 A Welcome Back
2Cor 2, Verses 5-8
Paul said in verse 4, that his heart was in anguish when he was writing to the church, and he had shed many tears. But in verse 5 he said that he had not been grieved. He meant that when he did grieve, it was not for himself but for the church. He cried for the hurting church, not for himself personally. When the sinner repented, Paul pleaded with the church to end the discipline, forgive the man, and welcome him back with joy and love. The man needed comfort, lest he be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
4 Foiling Satan
2Cor 2, Verses 9-11
Paul understood that Satan was ready to exploit the situation. So in his letter Paul tested the church, to see whether they would follow his lead in both discipline and forgiveness. Would they do as Paul did and as he instructed them? Would they act in harmony with him? If they did, and the man, having repented, was forgiven and welcomed back, then Satan’s strategy was foiled. And for everyone except Satan, joy cast sorrow away.
5 A Friend Not Found
2Cor 2, Verses 12-13
Paul’s emotional state was dominated by anxiety over the Corinthians. He had sent Titus with the severe letter, and he was desperate to know how they responded. His burden for them was so heavy that he could not settle into ministry at Troas.
6 A Fragrant Triumph
2Cor 2, Verses 14-16
For all the pain and sorrow experienced, the result was victory through Christ. Paul likens this to a Roman victory march —a triumphal procession in which the conquering general rode through the city with his troops, captives, and spoils, while priests burned incense along the route so that fragrances filled the air, symbolizing the glory of the victor and the fate of the defeated. Christ, the Victor over Satan, was leading the march of the church, and the word preached by Paul and others was the fragrance of Christ. For those conquered with Satan, it was the aroma of a death sentence; for those victorious with Christ, the same word was the aroma of everlasting life.
7 The Sight of God
2Cor 2, Verse 17
Paul defended himself and his companions against any suggestion that they were not qualified for the task of preaching the word. They were not like the many who peddled the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ they spoke before God sincerely as men sent from God.