“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? (2 Cor 2:14–16)
The terminology Paul uses here to describe the gospel enterprise presents gospel work as an exciting work indeed. First, he presents it as irresistibly advancing—it is a “triumphal procession.” The conquering Christ is successful in making captives for his own name’s sake. Despite its seeming setbacks and many temporary frustrations—so many of which seem at the moment to be insurmountable!—the cause of the gospel is not in doubt. Christ is fulfilling his mission sovereignly and successfully.
Paul’s choice of words likens this gospel advance to a Roman triumphus (“triumph”) in which a victorious general, returning home along with his proud soldiers, would lead in a triumphal procession—a victory parade, if you will. Following along behind him were the disgraced prisoners of war who were thus exposed to public ridicule. We cannot press all the details of the metaphor, and it is difficult to know whether the apostles (and, thus, all Christians) are being presented as the rejoicing soldiers who share in the benefits of Christ’s victory (cf. Rom 8:37) or the willing captives who count it a privilege to be part of God’s “triumph” (cf. Rom 1:1; Col 4:10). In either case, the metaphor is powerfully suggestive in this respect: “Christ undertook a battle not rightly his; we share in a triumph not rightly ours” (Murray Harris, Commentary on 2 Corinthians).
Finally, Paul describes this gospel advance as spreading a fragrant aroma wherever it goes. The assumption, of course, is that this world just doesn’t smell very good. Bluntly, it stinks with sin. But every faithful gospel witness makes it smell better. As the gospel of Christ makes its advance, God spreads far and wide the fragrant knowledge of himself in his Son (Col 2:2–3).
What a wonderful picture of the gospel enterprise this is. It is irresistibly successful, and it beautifies the world. As we spread the good news of Christ we participate in an endeavor that smells good to God and that is destined to succeed. There are many considerations that serve to motivate us to faithfulness in gospel work, and this surely is one.
