Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions
1) Who is the “I” in verse 4 and why is he troubled?
2) What is the “aroma of knowledge”?
3) What contrast is Paul making in verses 16 and 17?
4) What is to be our motivation as believers?
2 Corinthians 2:4-17
For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you. 5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes. 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, 13 I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.l15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? 17 For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.
Original Intent
1) Who is the “I” in verse 4 and why is he troubled?
In the previous chapter, we learn Paul is the letter’s author and he is speaking to his audience from a heart of “anguish”. We also learn from chapter 1:15 how Paul was unable to come Corinth and explains the reasons why he did not come. He longs to come to the Corinthians and he loves them deeply (2:4). Paul explains how his anguished, troubled heart is precisely because of his love for them. The Corinthian church struggled with conflict within and disunity ran rampant among them. This grieved Paul’s heart because he knew how much God desires unity, love, and forgiveness to be the most prominent characteristics of His Bride, the Church. Paul had already written to the Corinthians with strong words intended for their correction and discipline to live like Christ had called them. This second letter reflects the intensity that Paul loves them enough to call them out towards repentance.
2) What is the “aroma of knowledge”?
In this passage the words you see are exactly what they mean, the smell or odor of the knowledge of God, the of knowing Christ and having Him as Lord of your life. The more we know of the Lord, the more we have experienced Him personally in everyday life, the greater the intensity of His lingering fragrance over our daily actions and words.
3) What contrast is Paul making in verses 16 and 17?
Paul is using the analogy of life and death and comparing it to either an enticing fragrance or a repugnant one. To other believers and those seeking and exploring the claims of Christ, the devoted Christ-follower smells of life and hope, drawing others deeper with intrigue for how to know this Jesus for themselves. However, in contrast, there are others, those who have denied or turned their back on the Cross, those who are entirely un-interested and repelled by the freeing story of the Gospel. To these, the Christian smells of death, the stark reality of their separation from God and “the misery arising from sin”. These people press hard and fast away from hope, tragically clinging tightly to their sin. (Strong’s Interlinear Bible Search, www.studylight.org)
4) What is to be our motivation as believers?
Paul finishes the chapter with a description of the motivation of the believer, sincerity in Christ. He makes the contrast with those who “market” the word of God for profit. Other translations use the word “peddling” the word of God. (NASB) The Corinthian church would have known what Paul was referencing because there were those in Corinth that were doing just that. Similar to what Paul speaks of in Philippians how some preached Christ out of envy and vain conceit, some in Corinth were using the preaching of the gospel to bring about their own fame and prideful superiority to gain popularity and even funding. Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to loving act and share hope from a heart that loves and honors God, not because we are using the gospel to further our own position.
Everyday Application
1) Who is the “I” in verse 4 and why is he troubled?
Paul traveled far and wide. He led the New Testament church by establishing small local churches and training local pastors. He would then go check on those churches throughout his missionary journeys, continuing to build them up or, at times, remind them of the anchoring truth of the gospel and bring about correction and rebuke. He captivated those around the Mediterranean with his devotion to Christ, especially those who had met him and knew him personally. He gained a reputation that reeked beautifully of a transformed life wholly devoted to Christ. I often wonder, do people know who I serve? Are they so captivated by my actions and my life that they ask why? Paul sets an example for us today of utter devotion for the lost and the truth of the Gospel, even when it means asking hard questions and pointing people back to truth. Everything Paul did was from a heart of deep love, may we be encouraged to do the same!
2) What is the “aroma of knowledge”?
What knowledge do you smell like? It is an odd question, but one Paul raises in this passage. There was a senior lady at a church I attended in my twenties. We used to joke that she “oozed” Jesus. Her demeanor, her attitude, her words, and her life exemplified her dedicated devotion to Christ. Paul gives thanks to God who “always leads” us in spreading the truth about Christ in every place. We should be both encouraged that we are not alone for He is with us, but we should also be convicted to follow where He leads. Our aroma should captivate a dying world, drawing them in by the fragrance of the One who rescues and saves!
3) What contrast is Paul making in verses 16 and 17?
The aroma of a devoted Christ follow is sweet to those who know Him and to those who are being drawn in by the Holy Spirit. There is a familiarity and comfort when you find a brother or sister in Christ. There is a nearly tangible bond and a shared hope that comes from being part of the family of God, regardless of location. On the other hand, the aroma of Christ is repulsive to a dying world. The knowledge of God brings about the knowledge of sin and brokenness with no hope. When He pursues those who are running, His aroma is one of wrath and separation. Even in the stench of sin, God’s grace is still available and abundant. The question for us is two-fold. One, are we bringing a fragrant aroma of hope? Two, are we drawn in or repelled by the fragrance of other Christ followers? How well we love others and love Christ’s Bride, the Church, are two telling traits of how well we actually love Jesus.
4) What is to be our motivation as believers?
Paul brings this up because of the peddlers within Corinth that were disgracing the true gospel; they preached Christ for their own benefit to make themselves look better. Our goal as believers is sincerity and Christlikeness. We love because Christ loved us. Period. There is no market value that you can put on Jesus’ deep love. I am reminded of the credit card commercial that shows a series of events with price tags and then ends with sincere sweet moments between families and friends. The commercial ends with a black screen and the word priceless. Paul is making the point here that the Gospel has no price tag. It is available for all and there is no monetary price that can be put on the gospel. We must be sincere in our lives, in our pursuits, and all things that Christ calls us to in this life. Oswald Chambers pens it beautifully in the title of his book, “My Utmost for His Highest”. We give our utmost best because we love the One who is the Highest and worthy of the most supreme love.
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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I am pondering your question, “do people know who I serve?” Praying that today people glimpse the love and hope of Christ when they interact with me.
I love the wording of this question too! Convicting for sure