2 Corinthians 2:16 Parallel Translations

To some people we are a deadly fragrance, while to others we are a life-giving fragrance. Who is qualified to tell about Christ?(GOD'S WORD®)

KJV:

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?

ASV:

to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

BBE:

To the one it is a perfume of death to death; to the other a perfume of life to life. And who is enough for such things?

DBY:

to the one an odour from death unto death, but to the others an odour from life unto life; and who is sufficient for these things?

ERV:

to the one a savour from death unto death; to the other a savour from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

WEY:

to the last-named an odor of death predictive of death, and to the others an odor of life predictive of life. And for such service as this who is competent?

WBS:

To the one we are the savor of death to death; and to the other the savor of life to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

WEB:

to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

YLT:

to the one, indeed, a fragrance of death to death, and to the other, a fragrance of life to life; and for these things who is sufficient?

2 Corinthians 2:16 Cross References

XREF:

Luke 2:34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed--

John 9:39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind."

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

1 Peter 2:7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," (NASB ©1995)

Commentaries and Concordances

GSB:

2:16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. {4} And who [is] sufficient for these things?
(4) Again, he dismisses all suspicion of arrogance, attributing all things that he did to the power of God, whom he serves sincerely, and with honest affection. And he makes them witnesses of this, even to the sixth verse of the next chapter 2Co 2:17 - 3:6.

PNT:

2:16 To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death. In the triumphal procession, alluded to in 2Co 2:14 the captives were led, and when it closed were put to death. The fragrant odors of the incense, flowers and sacrifices, were a savor to them of their approaching death. So the savor of the gospel is a savor, a sign, an intimation of death to those who reject it.
And to the other the savour of life. This savor to the saved is a sign of life, and leads to eternal life.
Who [is] sufficient for these things? He seems to exclaim in astonishment that such results should follow human preaching.

WES:

2:16 And who is sufficient for these things - No man living, but by the power of God's Spirit.

MHC:

2:12-17 A believer's triumphs are all in Christ. To him be the praise and glory of all, while the success of the gospel is a good reason for a Christian's joy and rejoicing. In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and sweet odours were used; so the name and salvation of Jesus, as ointment poured out, was a sweet savour diffused in every place. Unto some, the gospel is a savour of death unto death. They reject it to their ruin. Unto others, the gospel is a savour of life unto life: as it quickened them at first when they were dead in trespasses and sins, so it makes them more lively, and will end in eternal life. Observe the awful impressions this matter made upon the apostle, and should also make upon us. The work is great, and of ourselves we have no strength at all; all our sufficiency is of God. But what we do in religion, unless it is done in sincerity, as in the sight of God, is not of God, does not come from him, and will not reach to him. May we carefully watch ourselves in this matter; and seek the testimony of our consciences, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that as of sincerity, so speak we in Christ and of Christ.

CONC:

Adequate Aroma Competent Death Equal Fragrance Indeed Last-named Odor Odour Perfume Predictive Savor Savour Service Stench Sufficient Sweet Task

Adequate Aroma Competent Death Enough Equal Fragrance Indeed Life Odor Odour Others Perfume Savor Savour Service Smell Stench Sufficient Sweet Task

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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

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