SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:15
Porque por Dios somos buen olor de Cristo en los que se salvan, y en los que se pierden;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 2:15
Verse 15. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ] The apostle still alludes to the case of a triumph; the conqueror always represented the person of Jupiter; as even the heathens supposed that God alone could give the victory: and as the punishment of death was inflicted on some of the captives, who had often rebelled and broken leagues and covenants; so others were spared, made tributaries, and often became allies. Alluding to this, the apostle says: We are a sweet savour to God-we have fulfilled his will in faithfully proclaiming the Gospel, and fighting against sin. And as he has determined that those who believe shall be saved, and those who believe not shall perish, we are equally acceptable to him though we unsuccessfully preach the Gospel to some who obstinately reject it, and so perish, as we are in preaching to others who believe, and are saved.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. For we are unto God a sweet savour , etc..] Here a reason is given, why the savour of the knowledge of God in Christ is made manifest by the ministers of the Gospel, because they themselves are a sweet savour; not that they are so in themselves, for they have the same corrupt hearts and natures, and complain of them as other men; but as having the gifts and graces of the Spirit of God, comparable to fragrant and sweet smelling ointments, ( Song of Solomon 1:3 4:10), by which they are enabled to preach the savoury doctrines of the Gospel, and to adorn and recommend them by their exemplary lives and conversations: the allusion is to Aaron and the priests under the law, who were anointed with the anointing oil, which was poured upon their heads, ran down upon their beards, and descended to the skirts of their garments, so that they were all over a perfume, a sweet smell and savour; and so are the ministers of the word, being anointed with that, which the other was typical of. They are said to be a sweet savour of Christ , because they have their gifts, grace, and Gospel from him, and he is the subject of their ministry; so that this sweet savour of theirs, is not properly theirs, but his, whose person, blood, righteousness, sacrifice, grace, and the fulness of it, as held forth in the Gospel ministry, are sweet and savoury to believers. Moreover, it is unto God they are such a savour, not unto men, mere carnal men, for with them they are the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; but they are grateful and well pleasing to the Lord, as their ministrations make for, and show forth his honour and glory: and this they are in them that are saved , who are chosen by God unto salvation, for whom Christ has wrought it out, to whom it is applied by the Spirit of God, who are heirs of it, and are kept unto it, and for it, by the power of God, and shall certainly enjoy it: yea, they are a sweet savour in them that perish , all mankind are, through sin, in a perishing condition: some of them shall never perish; but are, and shall be saved with an everlasting salvation: others will perish in their sins, to which they are abandoned; and what sense the ministers of the Gospel are a savour in these is shown in the following verse.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-17 - A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glor of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in ever place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. The reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of lif unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impressions this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is not of God, does not come from him, and will not reac to him. May we carefully watch ourselves in this matter; and seek the testimony of our consciences, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit that as of sincerity, so speak we in Christ and of Christ __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ χριστου 5547 N-GSM ευωδια 2175 N-NSF εσμεν 2070 5748 V-PXI-1P τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM εν 1722 PREP τοις 3588 T-DPM σωζομενοις 4982 5746 V-PPP-DPM και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τοις 3588 T-DPM απολλυμενοις 622 5730 V-PEP-DPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. A sweet savor of Christ (Cristou euwdia). Compare Ephesians v. 2; Philip. iv. 18. As so often in Paul's writings, the figure shifts; the apostolic teachers themselves being represented as an odor, their Christian personality redolent of Christ. It is not merely a sweet odor produced by Christ, but Christ Himself is the savor which exhales in their character and work.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:15 {A sweet savor of Christ} (cristou euwdia). Old word from eu, well, and oz", to smell. In N.T. only here and #Php 4:18; Eph 5:2. In spreading the fragrance of Christ the preacher himself becomes fragrant (Plummer). {In them that are perishing} (en tois apollumenois). Even in these if the preacher does his duty.
