The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 41

which sometimes have a factitive senee. But expression recalls the "odour of a sweet in Col. ii. 15 St. Paul uses this word in the smell," of Lev. i. 9, 13, 17 (comp. Epb. v. 2); ouly sense in which H is actually found, "to see on this pneaage the excellent note ol kad in triumph;" and this sense seems both Bishop Wordsworth. In them that are saved, to suit the context better, and to be more in o.nd in them tho.t perish ; rather, among those accordance with the habitual feelings ot St. who are perishing and those who are being Paul (Gal. vi.17; Col,i. 24),and especially saved (comp. Acts ii. 47). The odour is tbose with which these Epistles were written fragrant to God, though those who breathe (1 Cor. iv. 9-13; eh. iv. JO; xi. 23). St. it may be variously affected by it. Paul's feeling is, therefore, the exact opposite Ver.16.-The savour of death unto death; of that of the haughty Clcopo.tra who said, rBther, a savour from death to death. To Ob 6p,a.µ./Jw9-/i<Toµ.a,, " I will not be led in those who a.re perishing, tht1 incense of the triumph." He rejoiced to be exhibited by Name of Christ which our work enables God as a trophy in the triumphal procession them to breathe, seems to rise from death, of Christ. God, 1ndeed, gave him the victory o.nd to lead to death, They (for here again over the lower part of hie nature (Rom. the outlines of the metaphor shift) are like viii. 37), but this we.s no public triumph. the doomed captives, who, a.a tMy breathed The only victory of which he could boast the incense on the day of triumph, knew we.s to have been utterly vanquished by God where that triumph would lead thf>m before aud taken prisoner" in Christ." The so.vour the victors can climb the Capitol. To them of his knowledge. The mental vision of a it would seem to bring with it not "airs from Roman triumph summons up various imo.ges heaven,'' but wafts from the abyss. So before the mind of St. Paul. He thinks of Christ was alike for the fall and ivr the the streets breathing with the fragrance of rising again of many (Luke ii. 34). To incense offered upon many a wayside altar; some he was a Stone of stumbling (Acts iv. of the tumult and rejoicing of the people; of 11; Rom. ix. 33; 1 Pet. ii, 8), which grinds the fame and glory of the conqueror; of the to powder those on whom it falls (Matt. miserable captives led aside from the funeral xxi. 44). This contrast between the intended procession to die, like Vercingetorix, in the effect of the gospel e.s the powei;- and wisdom Tullianum at the foot of the Capitoline hill. of God, and its accidental effect, through He touches on each of these incidents as man's sin and blindness which converts they crowd upon him. The triumph of L. it into a. source of judgment, is often alluded Mummiue over the conquest of Corinth bad to in the New Testament (1 Cor. i. 18, 23, been one of the most splendid which the 24; John iii. 19; ix. 39 ; xv. 22, etc.). St. Roman world bad ever seen, and in A.D. 51, Paul is fond of intensified expressions, like shortly before this Epistle was written (A.D. "from death unto death," as in Rom. i. 17; 57), Claudius had celebrated his triumph "from faitb to faith," etc. (comp. iv. 17). over the Britons and their king Caractacus, Savour of life unto life; rather, a savour who had been led in the procession, but from life, ns before. It ea.me from the whose life had been spared (Tacitus, 'Ann.,' Source of life ; it is issued in the sole reality xiii 36). The sa1'our of his knowledge; i.e. of life. Similarly the rabbis spoke of the the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Law as "an aroma" alike of death and of lly us. The details of the metaphor are life. "Why are lhe words of the Lo.w commingled, as is often the case in writers likened to princes (Prov. viii. 6)? Because, of quick feeling and imagination. Here the like princes, they have the power to kill ana apostles are no longer the vanquished who to give life. Rava said to thoso that wnlk e.re led in procession, but the spectators who on its right, tLe Law is n medicine of life; burn and diffuse the fragrance of the incense. to those that walk on the left side, a In every place. Even at that early period, medicine of death" (' Shabbath,' f. 88, 2; not twenty-five years after the Crucifixion, 'Yoma,' f. 72, 2). Everything is as a two- the gospel had been \'ery widely preached edged sword. All Clll'istian privileges are, in ABia and Europe (Rom. xv. l!j, 19). as they are used, eitLer blessings or b,wes Ver. 15.-We a.re unto God a sweet savour (Wordsworth). And who is sufficient for these of Christ. The undeveloped metaphor in- things l St. Paul olwoys implies thl\t no- volved in these word• is tllat " we o.nd our thing but the grace of God could enablo him preo.cLing diffuse to God's glory the know- to discharge the great duty laid upon him ledge of Christ which is ns a sweet savour." (eh. iii. 5, 6; l Cor. xv. 10). 'file apostles are identified with their work; Vor. 17.-l!'or we are not as many; mthcr, they were as the incense, crushed and aa the many. This clause is intro,luccd to burued, but diffusing everywhere e. we.ft of show how much courage and effort the perfume. St. Po.ul is still thinking of the work requires. "Tho mnny " might, by incense burut in the streets of Rome during Greek idiom, menu "the nllljority." 'fho a triumph-" Dabiruuaque Divis 'fura be- apparent hnrshuess of tho o.sscrtiou that the uignia" (Horace, •Od.,' iv. 2. 51)-though his m,ijority of teachers in the o.postolio age uH. n. 1-17.J THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE COlUNTlll.ANS. 41