Second Corinthians 2:12–3:6 . . .

Fragrant Stationery of Aroma and Letters

While visiting the average church today, we often sense that “ministry” is for the theologically trained, or the eloquently polished, or the biblically proficient. When we view the professionalism of ministry in the church, on TV, and in society, we “lay people” probably question our ability to minister. Like Paul, we likely ask, “Who is equal to such a task?” (v. 16). In today’s passage, Paul tells us why all believers are capable of ministering for Christ. Herein, we find the clearest explanation in all of God’s Word “ of the secret of Apostle Paul’s phenomenal ministry.”

Paul had been speaking to the Corinthians about his and the Corinthians’ pressures and problems. He’d been waiting in Macedonia for Titus to return with news of what was happening within the Corinthian church. In time, he felt disturbed; in his eyes there grew a magnificent description of the power by which he labored and lived. Similar to a spontaneous outburst from the apostle’s heart, Paul counteracts the sense of failure and despair he was feeling then in his ministry, as shown in vv. 12–13 (see passage at the bottom of page).

Paul’s few words depict a tremendous experience in his life. He’d gone to Troas from Ephesus to preach the gospel of Christ. He did this with great joy wherever he went, knowing he’d find desperate people filled with darkness, living troubled lives governed by superstition and fear. Thankfully, Paul was always joyful while bringing to many the good news of Jesus Christ who was: (a) the one who understood humankind’ suffering, (b) the deliverer, (c) the healer of hurts, and (d) the one who had the power to touch and transform human lives. Paul tells us that he longed to preach the gospel everywhere he could, so that he could see the power of God free troubled people.

Coming into the city of Troas, the Lord opened a door for him, creating a responsiveness to his message. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people gathered wherever they could to hear him. Corinth was stirred as Paul came and preached; yet, he was unable to take advantage of it. Why? His heart was so troubled, his spirit so anxious for news of what was happening in Corinth that he couldn’t minister. He was spiritually restless and troubled and had to leave, likely gripped by a great sense of personal failure. So, to relieve his troubled mind, he left Troas for Macedonia instead, hoping to find Titus there.

Whether you’re a Bible-study facilitator, small-group leader, teacher, minister, pastor, and so on, you’ve likely already experienced the difficulty of teaching, preaching, discussing the Word of God at times when your heart was so filled with anxiety and distress that you wondered if you could open your mouth. Sense what Paul felt as he so honestly shares v. 14 with us: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” What an astounding verse! Paul cries out his grateful thanksgiving for a powerful and effective ministry after confessing his failure and weakness, his frustration and despair.

In vv. 15–16, following the juxtaposition of his depression, loneliness, and frustration with a bold, thankful acclamation, Paul further describes it as a spreading forth of the fragrance of Christ; the beautiful character of Jesus was becoming evident through the pressure on him. As he preaches this good news of Jesus Christ — the fact that Jesus is alive and can free men and deliver them from their inner torments and pressures — everywhere was a fragrance to God of the life of his Son. Wherever Paul went, God could smell the sweetness and beauty of Jesus in what Paul was doing. But, more than that, it was the fragrance of Christ that many could sense and appreciate.

Clearly, apart from our Lord himself, probably no other human being ever made such a fantastic impression on human history as Apostle Paul. He learned a secret that many Christians don’t easily realize about the benefit(s) we receive when we minister sincerely and humbly to glorify Christ (v. 17).

So, no matter which type of “ministry” you’ve been asked by God to undertake, you’ve been commissioned by him to “declare the existence of light amid darkness.” That’s what Paul is talking about: We better not be out to make a quick, soft living that rakes in dollars by hawking some attractive concept, BUT INSTEAD we ought to proclaim the truth of God so people become truly delivered and set free. To every minister of the new covenant: Become confident that the God who’s with you will accomplish his work and do his will as a result of your ministry efforts. After initially sensing degrees of fear, frustration, and failure, ministers of the gospel can and will triumph by developing the fragrance of Jesus Christ.

Have You Got What It Takes? — 3:1–6

It’s hard to believe that a man who spent most of his ministry in jail, who never made enough money to buy a home, who never built a church building, who never spoke on television, radio, or podcasts, who traveled so much that he had no permanent residence, who admitted that he was a poor speaker and had a very unimpressive appearance,… could become a successful minister. He just doesn’t fit today’s accepted scheme of successful ministry. No wonder they had trouble with him in Corinth, and had difficulty believing that he was a genuine apostle. That’s what they were thinking when Paul wrote this letter; perhaps that explains what’s behind what he wrote in 3:1–3.

It’s amazing — and unbelievable — that these people would think that Apostle Paul needed a letter of recommendation when he came back to them. After all, he’d led these people to Christ; yet, here they suggest that the next time he comes it would be good if he brought letters from John, or Peter, or James, or any real apostle. Paul is asking them, Do you really mean that? Don’t you understand? You are our letter of recommendation. Christ has written it on your hearts; he didn’t use paper, or deliver it on stones, as he did with Moses on Mount Sinai. He wrote it on your hearts, and the ink he used was the Holy Spirit. I, Paul, am nothing but the postman; I just delivered the letter; God did the work. Paul wanted these Corinthians to understand that the changes that had occurred in their lives — the freedom they were experiencing and their deliverance from evil habits, e.g., immorality, adultery, homosexuality, drunkenness, thievery — all happened because Christ had changed them.

Finally, Paul told us in chapter 2 (shown here) that Christ leads us triumphantly in battle. Paul saw himself as the commanding general, marching in triumph through the streets of Rome, having won great victories everywhere he went. In another beautiful figure of speech, he said that his ministry was like a bottle of perfume, the fragrance of which was spreading throughout the world, as the sweetness and fragrance of Jesus Christ himself. Paul’s question was, Who is sufficient for these things? See his answer (vv. 4–6).

† Key Themes of 2 Corinthians 2:12–3:6

Here are this passage’s highlights.

God’s Guidance and Victory  Paul emphasizes God’s leadership in Christ’s triumphal procession, using believers to spread the knowledge of the Lord everywhere.

The Impact of the Gospel  The message of Christ is described as an aroma, bringing life to some while bringing death to others.

New Covenant Ministry  We see Paul highlighting the shift from the old covenant (a letter) to the new covenant (the Spirit), emphasizing the life-giving nature of the Spirit of Jesus.

Authenticity in Ministry  Unlike those who peddle God’s word for profit, Paul speaks with sincerity before God.

Believers as Living Testimonies  Christians are portrayed as letters from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.

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New International Version (NIV)
[You can view it in a different version by clicking here; you can also listen to chapter 2 and chapter 3.]

Ministers of the New Covenant

¹²Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, ¹³I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? ¹⁷Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. ³You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

⁴Such confidence we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.