2 Corinthians 2:16 - Exposition

The savour of death unto death; rather, a savour from death to death . To those who are perishing, the incense of the Name of Christ which our work enables them to breathe, seems to rise from death, and to lead to death. They (for here again the outlines of the metaphor shift) are like the doomed captives, who, as they breathed the incense on the day of triumph, knew where that triumph would lead them before the victors can climb the Capitol. To them it would seem to bring with it not "airs from heaven," but wafts from the abyss. So Christ was alike for the fall and for the rising again of many ( Luke 2:34 ). To some he was a Stone of stumbling ( Acts 4:11 ; Romans 9:33 ; 1 Peter 2:8 ), which grinds to powder those on whom it falls ( Matthew 21:44 ). This contrast between the intended effect of the gospel as the power and wisdom of God, and its accidental effect, through man's sin and blindness which converts it into a source of judgment, is often alluded to in the New Testament ( 1 Corinthians 1:18 , 1 Corinthians 1:23 , 1 Corinthians 1:24 ; John 3:19 ; John 9:39 ; John 15:22 , etc.). St. Paul is fond of intensified expressions, like "from death unto death," as in Romans 1:17 ; "from faith to faith," etc. ( 2 Corinthians 4:17 ). Savour of life unto life; rather, a savour from life, as before. It came from the Source of life; it is issued in the sole reality of life. Similarly the rabbis spoke of the Law as "an aroma" alike of death and of life. "Why are the words of the Law likened to princes ( Proverbs 8:6 )? Because, like princes, they have the power to kill and to give life . Rays said to those that walk on its right, the Law is a medicine of life; to those that walk on the left side, a medicine of death " ('Shabbath,' f. 88, 2; 'Yoma,' f. 72, 2) Everything is as a two-edged sword. All Christian privileges are, as they are used, either blessings or banes (Wordsworth). And who is sufficient for these things? St. Paul always implies that nothing but the grace of God could enable him to discharge the great duty laid upon him ( 2 Corinthians 3:5 , 2 Corinthians 3:6 ; 1 Corinthians 15:10 ).