◄ 2 Corinthians 2:14 ►
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
Study Bible
But thanks be to God,

Paul’s thanksgiving rests in God’s sovereign work rather than favorable circumstances. In the midst of ministry pressures, opposition, and personal concern, God remains worthy of praise because He accomplishes His purposes through His servants.

2Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory…
Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!…

who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ

The picture recalls a Roman triumphal procession in which a victorious commander publicly displayed the results of his conquest. Christ is the victorious King, and believers belong to Him as those conquered by His grace and brought into His triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. Their weakness does not overturn His victory; it becomes a setting in which His power is displayed.

Psa 68:18 You have ascended on high; You have led captives away.…
Eph 4:8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high,…
Col 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,…

and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

Incense was associated with sacrifices and with public celebrations of victory, filling the air with a recognizable aroma. God spreads the knowledge of Christ through the faithful witness, conduct, suffering, and proclamation of His people. The same gospel brings life to those who receive Christ and exposes judgment to those who reject Him, as Paul explains in the following verses.

Eph 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us…
Col 1:6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel…
2Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing various issues and providing encouragement.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its commerce and diverse population. The church in Corinth faced many challenges, including moral and doctrinal issues.

3. Christ
Central to the passage, Christ is depicted as the triumphant leader in whose victory believers participate.

4. God
The source of triumph and the one who orchestrates the spread of the knowledge of Christ.

5. Roman Triumph
The imagery Paul uses is reminiscent of a Roman triumphal procession, where a victorious general parades captives and spoils of war through the streets.
Teaching Points
Triumphant Living in Christ
Believers are called to live in the victory that Christ has already achieved. This triumph is not dependent on our circumstances but on our position in Christ.

Spreading the Fragrance of Christ
Our lives should naturally exude the knowledge and character of Christ, impacting those around us. This is akin to a fragrance that permeates and influences its environment.

Understanding Our Role as Captives
In the Roman triumph imagery, captives were part of the victory parade. As believers, we are "captives" of Christ, signifying our surrender and allegiance to Him, which leads to true freedom.

Gratitude for God's Leading
Paul begins with thanksgiving, highlighting the importance of gratitude in recognizing God's work in our lives. We should continually thank God for His guidance and victory.

The Power of Knowledge
The "knowledge of Him" is powerful and transformative. Engaging deeply with Scripture and knowing Christ personally equips us to spread His fragrance effectively.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the Roman triumphal procession enhance our comprehension of 2 Corinthians 2:14?

2. In what ways can we actively spread the "fragrance of the knowledge of Him" in our daily lives?

3. How does the concept of being a "captive in Christ" challenge or encourage your current walk with God?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's triumph in your life. How did it impact your faith and witness to others?

5. How can we cultivate a heart of gratitude like Paul, especially in challenging circumstances, and what other scriptures support this practice?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 8:37
This verse speaks of believers being more than conquerors through Christ, echoing the theme of triumph in 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Ephesians 5:2
Discusses living a life of love as a fragrant offering, similar to the "fragrance of the knowledge of Him" mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:14.

Philippians 4:18
Paul refers to gifts received as a "fragrant offering," connecting to the idea of spreading the fragrance of Christ.
Sermons
The TriumphJ.R. Thomson 2 Corinthians 2:14
The Triumphal ProcessionAlexander Maclaren2 Corinthians 2:14
Coming to Troas; Disquietude; Defence of His ApostleshipC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 2:12-17
The Effect of the Gospel MinistryT. Moir, M. A.2 Corinthians 2:12-17
God's Triumph and Paul'sJ. Denney, B. D.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
Gratitude PresentedT. B. Baker.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Course of TruthF. W. Brown.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Minister's ManifestoA. J. Parry.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Ministry of the GospelW. Pulsford, D. D.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Savour of Divine KnowledgeJ. Denney, B. D.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Solemnity of the MinistryJ.R. Thomson 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Triumph of the Christian MinisterD. Wilson, M. A.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Triumph of the GospelR. Watson.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Triumph of the GospelD. Moore, M. A.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Triumphal Procession of the ChristA. Maclaren, D. D.2 Corinthians 2:14-16
The Constant Triumph of the Faithful MinisterE. Hurndall 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
People
Corinthians, Paul, Titus
Places
Achaia, Corinth, Macedonia, Troas
Topics
Always, Aroma, Causeth, Christ, Clear, Everywhere, Fragrance, Hands, Heads, Incense, Leadeth, Leading, Leads, Makes, Maketh, Manifest, Manifesting, Manifests, Odour, Overcome, Praise, Procession, Reveals, Savor, Savour, Spreads, Strong, Sweet, Thanks, Triumph, Triumphal, Value, Waves
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 2:14

     5597   victory, act of God
     5598   victory, over spiritual forces
     8676   thanksgiving

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

     4496   perfume
     5183   smell

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

     5109   Paul, apostle

Library
The Triumphal Procession
'Thanks be unto God, which always leadeth us in triumph in Christ and maketh manifest through us the savour of His knowledge in every place.'--2 COR. ii. 14 (R.V.) I suppose most of us have some knowledge of what a Roman Triumph was, and can picture to ourselves the long procession, the victorious general in his chariot with its white horses, the laurelled soldiers, the sullen captives, with suppressed hate flashing in their sunken eyes, the wreathing clouds of incense that went up into the blue …
Alexander Maclaren—Romans, Corinthians (To II Corinthians, Chap. V)

The Two Effects of the Gospel
And, my brethren, how sweet is that consolation which Paul applied to his own heart amid all his troubles. "Notwithstanding all," he says, "God makes known the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." Ah! with this thought a minister may lay his head upon his pillow: "God makes manifest the savour of his knowledge." With this he may shut his eyes when his career is over, and with this he may open them in heaven: "God hath made known by me the savour of his knowledge in every place," Then follow …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

Since These Things are So, Because it were Too Long to Treat Thoroughly Of...
35. Since these things are so, because it were too long to treat thoroughly of all that in that "Pound" [2458] of Dictinius are set down as precedents of lying, meet to be imitated, it seemeth to me that this is the rule to which not only these, but whatever such there be, must be reduced. Namely, either what is believed to be a lie must be shown not to be such; whether it be where a truth is left untold, and yet no falsehood told; or where a true signification willeth one thing to be understood …
St. Augustine—Against Lying

"But if Ye have Bitter Envying," &C.
James iii. 14.--"But if ye have bitter envying," &c. The cunning of Satan, and the deceitfulness of our own hearts, are such that when a grosser temptation will not prevail with conscience in some measure enlightened, then they transform themselves into angels of light, and deal more subtilely with us. And there is no greater subtilty of Satan, nor no stronger self deceit, than this, to palliate and cover vices with the shadow of virtue, and to present corruptions under the similitude of graces. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

There Resulteth Then from all These this Sentence...
41. There resulteth then from all these this sentence, that a lie which doth not violate the doctrine of piety, nor piety itself, nor innocence, nor benevolence, may on behalf of pudicity of body be admitted. And yet if any man should propose to himself so to love truth, not only that which consists in contemplation, but also in uttering the true thing, which each in its own kind of things is true, and no otherwise to bring forth with the mouth of the body his thought than in the mind it is conceived …
St. Augustine—On Lying

On the Study of the Evidences of Christianity.
THE investigation of that important and extensive subject which includes what have been usually designated as The Evidences of Revelation,' has prescriptively occupied a considerable space in the field of theological literature, especially as cultivated in England. There is scarcely one, perhaps, of our more eminent divines who has not in a greater or less degree distinguished himself in this department, and scarcely an aspirant for theological distinction who has not thought it one of the surest …
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils.
Let us now consider the matters which should be treated in the councils, and with which popes, cardinals, bishops, and all learned men should occupy themselves day and night, if they loved Christ and His Church. But if they do not do so, the people at large and the temporal powers must do so, without considering the thunders of their excommunications. For an unjust excommunication is better than ten just absolutions, and an unjust absolution is worse than ten just excommunications. Therefore let …
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

Epistle xxxv. To Leontius, Ex-Consul.
To Leontius, Ex-Consul. Gregory to Leontius, &c. Since in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some indeed to honour but some to dishonour (2 Tim. ii. 20), who can be ignorant that in the bosom of the Universal Church some as vessels of dishonour are deputed to the lowest uses, but others, as vessels of honour, are fitted for clean uses. And yet it commonly comes to pass that the citizens of Babylon serve in task-work for Jerusalem, while …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

How the Rude in Sacred Learning, and those who are Learned but not Humble, are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 25.) Differently to be admonished are those who do not understand aright the words of the sacred Law, and those who understand them indeed aright, but speak them not humbly. For those who understand not aright the words of sacred Law are to be admonished to consider that they turn for themselves a most wholesome drought of wine into a cup of poison, and with a medicinal knife inflict on themselves a mortal wound, when they destroy in themselves what was sound by that whereby they ought, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Preparatory Service; Sometimes Called the Confessional Service.
In our examination of the nature and meaning of the Lord's Supper, we have found that it is indeed a most important and holy Sacrament. It is in fact the most sacred of all the ordinances of the Church on earth. There is nothing beyond it--nothing so heavenly, on this side heaven, as this Feast. Nowhere else does the believer approach so near to heaven as when he stands or kneels, as a communicant at this altar, the Holy of Holies in the Church of Christ. What a solemn act! To approach this altar, …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
Having already presented to your view the dark side of the text, I shall now show you the light side, They shall be comforted'. Where observe: 1 Mourning goes before comfort as the lancing of a wound precedes the cure. The Antinomian talks of comfort, but cries down mourning for sin. He is like a foolish patient who, having a pill prescribed him, licks the sugar but throws away the pill. The libertine is all for joy and comfort. He licks the sugar but throws away the bitter pill of repentance. If …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1120) to a Youth Named Fulk, who Afterwards was Archdeacon of Langres
To a Youth Named Fulk, Who Afterwards Was Archdeacon of Langres He gravely warns Fulk, a Canon Regular, whom an uncle had by persuasions and promises drawn back to the world, to obey God and be faithful to Him rather than to his uncle. To the honourable young man Fulk, Brother Bernard, a sinner, wishes such joy in youth as in old age he will not regret. 1. I do not wonder at your surprise; I should wonder if you were not suprised [sic] that I should write to you, a countryman to a citizen, a monk …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

A Book for Boys and Girls Or, Temporal Things Spritualized.
by John Bunyan, Licensed and entered according to order. London: Printed for, and sold by, R. Tookey, at his Printing House in St. Christopher's Court, in Threadneedle Street, behind the Royal Exchange, 1701. Advertisement by the Editor. Some degree of mystery hangs over these Divine Emblems for children, and many years' diligent researches have not enabled me completely to solve it. That they were written by Bunyan, there cannot be the slightest doubt. 'Manner and matter, too, are all his own.'[1] …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Things Pertaining to the Kingdom.
"Now is there solemn pause in earth and heaven; The Conqueror now His bonds hath riven, And Angels wonder why He stays below; Yet hath not man his lesson learned, How endless love should be returned." Hitherto our thoughts about "The Kingdom of Heaven" have been founded on the teaching of the King respecting His Kingdom recorded in the Gospels. But we must not forget to give attention to the very important time in the life of our Lord extending between His Resurrection and Ascension, during which …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

Elucidations.
I. (Such as have lapsed, cap. vii. p. 660.) The penitential system of the Primitive days, referred to in our author, began to be changed when less public confessions were authorized, on account of the scandals which publicity generated. Changes were as follows: 1. A grave presbyter was appointed to receive and examine voluntary penitents as the Penitentiary of a diocese, and to suspend or reconcile them with due solemnities--circa a.d. 250. 2. This plan also became encumbered with difficulties and …
Tertullian—On Repentance

Letter cxx. To Hedibia.
At the request of Hedibia, a lady of Gaul much interested in the study of scripture, Jerome deals with the following twelve questions. It will be noticed that several of them belong to the historical criticism of our own day. (1) How can anyone be perfect? and How ought a widow without children to live to God? (2) What is the meaning of Matt. xxvi. 29? (3) How are the discrepancies in the evangelical narratives to be accounted for? How can Matt. xxviii. 1 be reconciled with Mark xvi. 1, 2. (4) How …
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

And for Your Fearlessness against them Hold this Sure Sign -- Whenever There Is...
43. And for your fearlessness against them hold this sure sign--whenever there is any apparition, be not prostrate with fear, but whatsoever it be, first boldly ask, Who art thou? And from whence comest thou? And if it should be a vision of holy ones they will assure you, and change your fear into joy. But if the vision should be from the devil, immediately it becomes feeble, beholding your firm purpose of mind. For merely to ask, Who art thou [1083] ? and whence comest thou? is a proof of coolness. …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

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