Second Corinthians 2: Sympathy/Empathy by Believers; Satan’s Devices; Triumph of the Believer in Christ – a Sweet Odor to God:

The 2nd chapter continues the thought from Chapter 1 that Paul would not come to the Corinthians again in “heaviness,” i.e., grief or sorrow, 2 Corinthians 2:11 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

, referring to the reproof/correction he sent them in 1st Corinthians. He then asks rhetorically who will make him glad if he grieves them further from what he wrote in 1st Corinthians as he did not want to be sorrowed by those with whom he ought to rejoice because their joy was his joy, 2 Corinthians 2:2 - 32 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

. This demonstrates the sympathy and empathy all believers should have for one another. Paul assures the Corinthians that he wrote (chastising them for their carnality in 1st Corinthians) while he was in much personal anguish and tears that they would know the abundant love he had for them and not that they would be heavily grieved, 2 Corinthians 2:44 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

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Paul then addresses the case of the man in the Corinthian assembly who had been involved in open fornication. Paul previously called out the church in his 1st epistle for allowing such a situation to continue. He had written to them in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ that when they gathered, they should, with his spirit and the power of The Lord Jesus Christ, deliver the man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit would be saved in the Day of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 5:1 - 81 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

. Paul had obviously heard they dealt with the man, and he had ceased his sinful behavior and was truly repentant. However, he remained excluded from church fellowship so now Paul writes that it is time the church not only forgive him but also comfort him and confirm their love for him, 2 Corinthians 2:5 - 85 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

. Paul then explains: “For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things,” 2 Corinthians 2:99 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

. The lesson in this verse for believers today is to heed Paul’s instructions in his epistles, i.e., they still apply to believers interactions with one another.

“To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also (or “I also forgive”): for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it (I forgave) in the Person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:10 - 1110 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

. The 4 words “should get an advantage” are translated from one Greek word, “pleonekteo” (G4122), found 5 times in the New Testament (NT), 4 in 2 Corinthians and once in 1 Thessalonians. In the King James Version (KJV) it is translated “we have defrauded” in 2 Corinthians 7:22 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

; “make a gain” in 2 Corinthians 12:1717 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

and in 2 Corinthians 12:88 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

and “defraud” in 1 Thessalonians 4:66 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

. According to Commentaries, the phrase “should get an advantage” can be translated “overreached,” which means “to reach above or beyond, to get the better of especially in dealing and bargaining and typically by unscrupulously or crafty methods.” The Greek word “noema” (G3540) translated “devices” at the end of 2 Corinthians 2:1111 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

, referring to Satan’s devices, is found 6 times in the NT, 5 of which are in 2 Corinthians and once in Philippians 4:77 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

. It is translated “devices” only here in our text, elsewhere it is translated “minds” 4 times and “thought” once, so this refers to Satan’s mind or thoughts.

Believers are warned that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light just as false prophets and deceitful workers are transformed or changed into apostles of Christ in 2 Corinthians 11:13 - 1513 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

. Thus, Paul’s lesson for believers in 2nd Corinthians 2:10 - 11 is to truly forgive fellow believers who have truly recognized their sin/s and changed their behavior. Otherwise, it is Satan’s thought (or method) to drive a wedge between believers and cause division and animosity in the local fellowship.

You may recall that I mentioned in Vol 5, No 59that the Gentile Titus, Paul’s companion and fellow laborer is mentioned 9 times in 2nd Corinthians, by far the most frequent in any of Paul’s epistles. The first reference to him appears next in our text: “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. 2 Corinthians 2:12 - 1312 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

. Put another way, Paul told the Corinthians that even though his message met with success in Troas, he nevertheless greatly missed his fellow worker, Titus. Furthermore, the verses that follow state that Titus was to bring Paul news about the Saints in the Corinthian church, which Paul eagerly wanted to learn.

In the next verse, Paul breaks forth in thanks to God for God’s work completed by Christ through Whom Paul triumphed as a “savour” of Christ’s knowledge by Paul and his fellow workers everywhere they went. I’ll quote the verse and then break it down further: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:1414 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

. The six words in the phrase “which always causeth us to triumph” are translated from 3 Greek words, the key word “triumph” being that which God causes to occur in believers. Triumph is from the Greek word “thriambeuo” (G2358) used only twice in the NT, here and in Colossians 2:1515 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

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We need to review the context of Colossians 2:15 to get a better idea of what “thriambeuo” conveys. The verses previous to verse 15 in Colossians teach that all believers are complete in Christ; being circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in the putting off the sinful body of flesh by the circumcision of Christ; buried with Christ in baptism (identified with Christ) and raised from the dead through the faith of the operation of God Who raised Christ from the dead; made believers alive with Christ having forgiven them of all sins; and erased the Law of which all are guilty, taking it out of the way by nailing it to the cross, Colossians 2:10 - 1410 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

. “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15. The words triumphing over are from the word “thriambeuo,” which “refers to an acclamatory procession, to conquer or to give victory, to triumph over.” In ancient Rome, when a general conquered a county and its people, he returned to Rome in many cases leading a parade of those conquered and taken prisoner, some of whom would be sold as slaves and others put to death in the Coliseum. Therefore, this text teaches not only what Christ accomplished for the believer by His death on the cross but also that He has made a show for all to see that the evil principalities and powers in heavenly places, i.e., Satan and his fallen angels were defeated and led as captives in Triumph by Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Thus, in our text “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,” 2 Corinthians 2:14a, believers are assured it is God Who always causes us to triumph in Christ (not by what the believer accomplishes in their own power). Considering the second half of this verse: “and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14b. The word “savour” is from the Greek word “osme” (G3744) found 6 times in the NT, translated both “savour and odour.” Paul uses it 5 times but the first time it occurs in the NT provides a good idea of its meaning: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour (osme) of the ointment.” John 12:33 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

. In other words, osme refers to the smell transmitted through the olfactory system.

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament (OT) translated “savour” is “reyach” found 58 times meaning “scent or smell,” usually found with the adjective “sweet,” meaning “pleasant.” The first time it is found provides a guide to its meaning. This occurred when Noah, his family and the animals departed the ark after the flood: “And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour “reyach”; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.” Genesis 8:20 - 2120 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

. Just as in this passage, Reyach is usually used in the OT to describe the sweet smell (odour/savour) that goes up to God from a sacrifice offered on an alter by fire, but it is also used at least once it describe the sweet smell of an offering by an idolator. We may picture the thought that the smell of cooking or burning meat pleases God, but I think the point of the offering that pleases God is His awareness that the Israelite offering the sacrifice has faith manifested by obeying God’s Law. It must also have been pleasing to God that the sacrifice offered pointed to, and was a type of, the death of God’s own Son on the cross, which was the antitype of each OT sacrifice that ultimately accomplished the faithful Israelite’s salvation.

Christ’s sacrificial death for believers during this present age in which we live was also a sweet savour to God the Father: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1 - 21 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

. Paul used this terminology when thanking the church at Philippi for the support they sent him, which pleased God: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour (osme) of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:1818 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

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Osme occurs 3 times in the last 4 verses of the 2nd Corinthians chapter 2: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph (thriambeuo) in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (osme) of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour (another Greek word for fragrance or sweet smelling) of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour (osme) of death unto death; and to the other the savour (osme) of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 - 1714 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

. Paul, his fellow workers and all believers who believe and teach the Gospel of Grace Paul will triumph (thriambeuo) in Christ and are to God a sweet odour (osme) of Christ as Christ’s Gospel of Grace revealed through Paul is an odour (osme) of life to those who believe but of death to those who reject the Gospel.