2 Corinthians 2:14

This outburst of praise sprang from Paul’s deep-seated conviction that God’s working in and through him, regardless of the appearance of the set-back just mentioned, proceeded on triumphantly. This viewpoint is one of the great emphases of this epistle. Jesus Christ is without exception continuing to advance in His work. He is building His church and the gates of hell are not prevailing against it (Matthew 16:18). Because Paul and the Corinthians were in Christ they shared in this triumph.

"The major objection to the hypothesis that 2 Corinthians 2:14 is the beginning of a new letter, one of several said to have been combined to create 2 Corinthians, is the fact that such a letter has no clearly defined ending. . . .

"The thesis of this article is that it was the resonances of the term ’Macedonia’ in 2.13 that switched Paul’s thoughts into the channel evidenced in 2.14-17." [Note: Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, "Paul and Macedonia: The Connection Between 2 Corinthians 2:13-14," Journal for the Study of the New Testament 25 (October 1985):99, 100.]

Paul compared the irresistible advance of the gospel, in spite of temporary setbacks, to a Roman triumph.

"Christ undertook a battle not rightly his; we share in a triumph not rightly ours." [Note: Harris, p. 332.]

Paul compared the wafting of fragrant incense, as the triumph proceeded through the streets of Rome, to God disseminating the knowledge of Himself through the apostles.

"The metaphor is at the same time triumphal and antitriumphal. It is as God leads his servants as prisoners of war in a victory parade that God spreads the knowledge of Christ everywhere through them. Whereas in such victory processions the prisoners would be dejected and embittered, from this captive’s lips comes only thanksgiving to God, his captor. Here is restated the power-in-weakness theme (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11) that pervades the letter." [Note: Barnett, p. 150.]