"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place."
2 Corinthians 2:14
Paul paints a vivid picture for us with his words in these last verses of 2 Corinthians 2 (vv. 14-17), where he uses the description of the conquest processional of a victorious general returning to Rome after his triumphant victory. You can imagine the pomp and ceremony of such an event. Just prior to these grand words are Paul’s words of disappointment at not being able to find his friend and brother, Titus, in Troas, while he was there preaching the Gospel. They finally met up together in Macedonia, to Paul’s great joy.
“Now thanks be unto God,”
Paul is a great example to us of a thankful believer. All through his letters we read his statements of thanksgiving to the Lord. He models his thankfulness well; he is grateful for other believers, for the churches, for his friends, for the Lord and His work through Paul. And here his thankfulness for being reunited with Titus, and for the work the Lord is accomplishing in Corinth, a difficult place to minister. His gratitude to God is clear.
“Which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,”
God is the one who always caused Paul to triumph in Christ. The word “always” here reminds us that God is always working all things for His child’s good, and for His glory (Romans 8:28).
This phrase “to triumph in Christ,” is an interesting one. Literally translated from the ancient text it reads, “to lead in triumph.”1 This word “triumph”2 comes from the word that means “a hymn to Bacchus,” which was sung in the Roman processions as a triumph song for the general’s great victory. Here’s how Paul pictured things. He was a captive in God’s victory procession.3 The triumph is through the help of Jesus Christ. As Paul promoted Christ and His Gospel there was triumph.
“Paul had no joy which was not connected with Christ, and he had no success which he did not trace to him.”3 (Robertson)
“And maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”
Paul’s picture doesn’t end with his presence in God’s triumphant procession. As the procession moved through the streets of Rome there were incense alters, and perfume bearers along the way. Flowers and garlands were strewn along the road as well. As the horses, chariot’s, and soldier’s feet crushed the flowers their sweet aroma was released, and the fragrance drifted around the city mingling with the perfumes and incense. Anyone who smelled the sweet odor knew what it was from, a victory parade.
In Paul’s picture, the sweet smell was the savor of the knowledge of God. Paul, as one of the incense carriers, spread the Word of God as he traveled. Wherever he went he carried the “good news,” that sweet aroma of the Gospel permeated the environment.
Believer, when people meet you can they smell the sweet aroma of the “good news” on you? Can people tell that you have been spending time with God? Or is that heavenly scent missing from your life? There is no replacement for time spent with the Lord in His Word. It’s good to read other devotionals (like this one 8-), but please do not neglect your time in the Word. This is the most important thing, and this is where the aroma of God lingers.
1. M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
2. Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.
3. A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
4. A.T. Robertson, ibid.