Written ~ 08-27-2024
Read 2 Corinthians Chapter Two
2 Corinthians 2
Paul starts off this chapter with the reason he did not make a second visit to the believers in Corinth. Originally, he had planned to come for a visit before and after he traveled through Macedonia. But he realized his first visit would have brought a very stern and severe message and he didn’t want to grieve them in that way. That’s why he sent a letter, which is the New Testament Book of 1 Corinthians. He wanted his visit to be joyous! So, he made the decision to confront the difficult issues in a letter. In verse 2:4 it says that Paul wrote that letter in great anguish, a troubled heart and with many tears. Have you ever had something you really needed to tell someone, and you thought it would be better in letter form than a face-to-face confrontation? He continues to say in verse 2:4 that he didn’t want to grieve them, but he wanted them to know just how much he loved them. Sometimes by pointing out sinful behavior we can distress the other person, but it is necessary to expose sin so repentance can be sought after! It is because we love that person dearly and don’t want to see them following a path that leads to destruction. I think Paul wrote his first letter to clear the air. He had heard about all the things they were allowing to take place within the church, and they needed to be set straight. Once the believers in Corinth realized what they were doing was wrong they were able to repent, fix the problem areas and serve the Lord wholeheartedly. When the reports began reaching Paul that they took his stern reprimands to heart and changed, it brought joy to his heart.
Let’s explore what Paul has to say next…
2 Corinthians 2:5-13…
5 “I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. 6 Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. 7 Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. 8 So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
9 I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. 10 When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, 11 so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. 13 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him.”
I wasn’t sure which man Paul was talking about in this passage, so I consulted the “Expositor’s Bible Commentary.” What I found out is the man Paul is speaking of in verses 2:5-13 was someone who was in opposition of what Paul said in his first letter. He didn’t like the stern message, and the reprimand Paul was giving them. It seems this man was trying to cause a great disruption in the church by not agreeing with how Paul was expecting repentance within the church. Some folks don’t like having their sins exposed and he made it clear by raising a bit of a revolt against Paul. In these verses Paul is asking the believers who opposed this man to forgive him. It was time to bring him back into the church with love and acceptance. Why did he say to do that? So the man wouldn’t be overcome by discouragement. But also, so Satan couldn’t get a foothold within the church. When there is a lack of forgiveness and it is not taken care of quickly, it can create another huge problem! Forgiveness brings love and acceptance back in the church, so it’s vitally important for us to forgive those who hurt us.
Moving on…
2 Corinthians 2:14-16…
14 “But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?”
In most instances you would think that being held captive as a bad thing, something you would want to escape from. But not here, in verse 2:14 Paul says we are captives of the Lord! Even the dictionary paints a negative picture to the meaning of the word captive:
- Taken or held
- Kept within bounds
- Held under the control of another
- Owned or controlled
But let’s consider this definition as it pertains to the Almighty God being our captor! It actually winds up being something we all should be seeking!
When we give our hearts and lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior we are taken in by God and held by the Lord Himself. We are kept within the bounds of His commands, His instruction, His Love. When we become believers in Jesus Christ, God brings us into His ownership, we are now under His Word. Our hearts, our minds, our strength, our actions, our tongues are now controlled by the Holy Spirit. And guess what! This type of captivity is a blessing! I am relieved to know that Jesus has captured my heart! The wonderful, powerful Holy Spirit has control over my life, and I welcome His presence in everything I do.
I love what is says in the next part of verse 2:14… “He continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession…”
When we follow Christ, think about it, when we are led by the Holy Spirit, when we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and spread the Love of God, we are walking in Triumph! We are walking in Victory! God is using us to spread the Good News of Jesus to everyone we come in contact with!
Look what it says in verses 2:14b-15… “Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.”
Everywhere we go, not only are we the Light of the Lord, but these verses say we are like a sweet perfume. When you and I go out into the world, there will be those who are attracted to the Light that shines within us. There are also those who will be drawn to the beautiful, sweet fragrance of the Lord that exudes from us. A person who has been called by the Lord will know this fragrance as something their hearts have been yearning for and they too will become captives of Jesus Christ just as we are.
Look how verse 2:16 continues… “To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.” This verse tells us that there will be those who react to the fragrance of Jesus quite differently. There will be those who will turn their hearts in disgust – the fragrance of Jesus is not a sweet-smelling aroma, to them it is a stench, something that brings dread, unfortunately for that person it makes them want to run in the opposite direction. Then verse 2:16 continues by saying… “But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.” So even though we may, at times, feel discouraged that our message of Jesus seems to repel more people than it attracts, we must not stop. It is important for every believer to live in such a way that their life-giving aroma spreads. Don’t keep it bottled up and stored away under lock and key, it needs to opened and shared so the Gospel message can be received.
1 Corinthians 2:16b-17…
16b “And who is adequate for such a task as this?
17 You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.”
You and I may feel we are not up to the task of spreading the Gospel message. But do you remember what it said in verse 2:14? We walk alongside Jesus in a triumphal procession! Jesus is the one using us, it is under His authority that we go out and share this beautiful, sweet-smelling fragrance to everyone! We have a message of truth to share. We have a knowledge and a wisdom that the world needs! In verse 2:17 it says, “we are not like the many hucksters…” you may be asking yourself what a huckster is… well, the dictionary defines it as someone who is a haggler, a peddler, like a “sidewalk hawker of goods,” a bargainer.
We do not “wheel and deal” the Word of the Lord for profit in order to see who we can swindle. No, we have the truth. We stand on a firm foundation, which is the authority of Christ. We may not feel adequate… But the Holy Spirit is within us, helping us, guiding us. And remember! God is watching us!
Thank You Father for making me Your captive; help me to understand that being held within Your boundaries, Your commands are exactly where I need to be! I want to lead a triumphal, victorious life walking in the footsteps of Your Son. I want my sweet fragrance to be pleasing to You. I want that beautiful aroma to draw others to You. Thank You for using me to spread the knowledge of Jesus everywhere I go. Praising Your Name Father!
~AMEN~