2 Corinthians 2:16 Meaning and Explanation
“To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The same gospel fragrance brings death to those who reject it and life to those who receive it, prompting Paul to ask who is adequate for such a calling.
What Does 2 Corinthians 2:16 Mean?
The one aroma has two effects. To those who refuse, it becomes a savour of death; to those who believe, a savour of life. Overwhelmed by the gravity of carrying a message with such eternal weight, Paul cries, who is sufficient for these things?
No one, in their own strength, is equal to a ministry that touches life and death. That very question drives the servant back to God, who alone makes anyone able. The same word that hardens the resistant heart awakens the receptive one, and the difference, finally, rests in how each person meets the Christ it bears.
2 Corinthians 2:16 in the Original Language
hikanos (ἱκανός), 'sufficient' -- adequate, fit, having what the task requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 2:16
What does 2 Corinthians 2:16 mean?
The same gospel fragrance brings death to those who reject it and life to those who receive it, prompting Paul to ask who is adequate for such a calling.