II Corinthians 2:12-3:6
There is a phrase in our vernacular, “…the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law…”. I wonder if that phrase comes from today’s reading: …our sufficiency is from God, Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (vv. 5b-6) When Paul speaks of “the letter”, I suspect that he is speaking of the Law, the Old Testament scriptures, the “old covenant”. He has spoken earlier in our readings about the Law being useful in bringing us to the realization of our sin and of our need for a savior. So here he presents the old and new covenants side by side, in direct contrast one with the other.
I was initially confused by the following two verses: For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. (vv. 15-16) Often when we write two sets of two phrases each, the first phrase in the first set corresponds to the first phrase in the second set and the same for the second phrase in each set. For clarity, we write, “respectively”. Here Paul could have written, “not respectively”, because the first phrase (those who are being saved) corresponds to the second (from life to life) and the second to the first. Or, “to the latter” and “to the former” instead of “to one” and “to the other”, respectively.
Another seriously confusing verse, depending on the translation… The ESV has When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord… I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. (v. 12, 13b) while the NASB has Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord… taking my leave of them, I went on to Macedonia. The ESV has “even though” while the NASB has “and when”. For the ESV it sounds like Paul is abandoning his preaching possibilities in Troas while the NASB seems to indicate that his preaching time there was over. The differences in translations…! Since we have so few verses in our readings this year, I would seriously recommend that each of you read two or three translations. I daresay it will help your understanding – although sometimes it will confuse you more!!
Slava Bohu!
Thanks, Fred. I was struck, like you on v. 15 the aroma or fragrance of the Gospel and Christians. My Bible study relates it to Roman victory parades, with incense to the gods and captives in tow. The victors smell the incense and are full of praise, while the captives smell it and know that slavery or death is coming. The scent means different things to believers and nonbelievers.
Nice touch, Debbie! The same “message”, received with dramatically different responses from two sets of people. Interesting! Just like the Gospel…!