2Co 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (osme) of his knowledge by us in every place
2Co 2:15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
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?
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
TRIUMPH
To cause to triumph was used only in two places. Here and in Col 2:15
Col 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
The word triumph has an important history in first the Greek and then the Roman Empires.
“The idea is borrowed from an ancient Roman triumph, which to the eyes of the world of that day was the most glorious spectacle which the imagination could conceive.” (Meyer)
It was a religious festival only called when their armies had a victory. It was mostly to honor the victorious general and give offering to their Gods. Usually it was to honor Dionysus the God wine and party.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_triumph
For a little back ground I read this Wikipedia information
Triumph was the Roman derivate of the Greek Triumph. It was a festival that was called after the victory of the winners over other countries .
The reason Paul used this word triumph was
“Some ancient and modern sources suggest a fairly standard processional order. First came the captive leaders, allies, and soldiers (and sometimes their families) usually walking in chains; some were destined for execution or further display. Their captured weapons, armour, gold, silver, statuary, and curious or exotic treasures were carted behind them, along with paintings, tableaux, and models depicting significant places and episodes of the war. Next in line, all on foot, came Rome’s senators and magistrates, followed by the general’s lictors in their red war-robes, their fasces wreathed in laurel, then the general in his four-horse chariot. A companion, or a public slave, might share the chariot with him or, in some cases, his youngest children. His officers and elder sons rode horseback nearby. His unarmed soldiers followed in togas and laurel crowns, chanting “io triumphe!” and singing ribald songs at their general’s expense. Somewhere in the procession, two flawless white oxen were led for the sacrifice to Jupiter, garland-decked and with gilded horns. All this was done to the accompaniment of music, clouds of incense, and the strewing of flowers.[14]”
Paul’s use of the word.
“Thanks be to God who always leads us: Paul dealt with criticism from the Corinthian Christians, who said he was unreliable and fickle because of his travel plans. He has explained himself and his reasons for not arriving when he had previously planned. More than anything, he wanted the Corinthian Christians to know he is following Jesus Christ as his General. More than any plan he may declare to the Corinthian Christians, Paul’s plan is to follow Jesus Christ” Dave Guzik
Paul was showing that he was not following his own plans but the plans of the Victorious General Jesus. The booty and the losers were not people. .People who followed Paul and Christ were the winners. All people can be victorious following the cross of General Jesus
. Col 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
“Christ, in this picture, is the conquering general; the powers and authorities are the vanquished enemy displayed as the spoils of battle before the entire universe.”
Paul wrote in another place that if the rulers of this age — by which he meant both the spiritual powers of darkness and their earthly representatives — had known what would happen on the cross, they would have never crucified Jesus. Because they, the powers of destruction, all the real haters nailed them selves to the cross.
But in doing so the same servants of Satan signed their death warrant. They were humiliated as the losers in a Triumphal parade and marched in front of all Humanity, and headed to public execution. . Jesus victoriously brought home all kinds of booty, meaning blessings for those following Him. And Death to those who were the destroyers, the Devil and his servants. Servants being all the hierarchy of demonic powers running this age and people serving them.
SMELL OSME
In the triumphal parade there was much incense burned. To the Roman victors it was a sweet smell but to the losers it was the smell of death or at least slavery.
- Unto some it is a savour of death unto death. Those who are willingly ignorant, and wilfully obstinate, disrelish the gospel, as men dislike an ill savour, and therefore they are blinded and hardened by it: it stirs up their corruptions, and exasperates their spirits. They reject the gospel, to their ruin, even to spiritual and eternal death. Matthew Henry
- “To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life: The scent of incense burnt to the gods in a Roman triumphal parade smelled wonderful to a Roman. The same aroma was a bad smell to a captive prisoner of war in the parade, who would soon be executed or sold into slavery.” Dave Guzik
- “(2.) Unto others the gospel is a savour of life unto life. To humble and gracious souls the preaching of the word is most delightful and profitable. As it is sweeter than honey to the taste, so it is more grateful than the most precious odours to the senses, and much more profitable; for 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.” Matthew Henry
- We are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: In the same way, the message of the gospel is a message of life to some and a message of condemnation to those who reject it (John 3:17-21). Dave Guzik
- “The same happens to the present day to those who receive and to those who reject the Gospel: it is the means of salvation to the former, it is the means of destruction to the latter; for they are not only not saved because they do not believe the Gospel, but they are condemned because they reject it.” (Clarke)
- Those that reject the Gospel are blinded by Satan and were already condemned already. Some when it is shown to them they need a savior follow and are no longer condemned. Other decide to reject Jesus and are more and more condemned by their own conscience. Jesus did not come to condemn but save. They condemn themselves.
- Wherever we go. We who are following Christ.. We emit a sweet odor. Sweet smells are hard to forget. When people who are to be saved smell they are attracted to the perfume of Jesus. And it stays in their memory. But for some, bad smells are harder to forget and they smell Jesus as rotten degusting are repelled more and more.
THE MANY PEDDLERS
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Here is another image Paul used of peddlers. Some were not just corrupting the Word of God but making a business of it.
The verb for to corrupt is a special word used only once in the New testament Greek text and that draws attention to it. It is καπηλεύω “kapeleuo” meaning 1) to be a retailer, to peddle 2) to make money by selling anything 3) to trade the Divine word for baser things. 4) and often the retailers would add and corrupt wine or what ever to make more sordid profit.
These were “peddlers peddling” the Word of God. Paul had just said, Who is sufficient for these things. In view of the great Eternal procession of Triumph displayed across the Universe. Who? Only those ministers that God Himself made able and sufficient to do the work. (2Cor 3:6) It is only by the holy spirit we are following Christ and given the power to be in this Triumphal parade!
But the peddler would rather see how many they can convince with their advertising and psychologically smooth words. Not by the spirit but their own cunning. True there are many filling the church seats and the majority of “Chiristians” will rather follow peddlers of the word. But it is not in numbers we are concerned. It is not how many believe the Truth that prove Truth is Truth. In fact the majority rather be deceived by peddlers and have their itching ears and lusts tickled to death.
“For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God: The word peddling has the idea of “adulterating” or “watering down” for gain, and was especially used of a wine seller who watered down the wine for bigger profits. Paul was not like others who watered down the gospel for gain.”
“Sincerity(tested in broad daylight εἰλικρίνεια heilikrineia) is the ancient Greek word eilikrineia, which means “pure” or “transparent.” Barclay says, “It may describe something which can bear the test of being held up to the light of the sun and looked at with the sun shining through it.” Paul’s message and ministry did not have hidden motives or agendas.: Dave Guzik
Followers of Christ are more concerned with following him than to have the base reward of material comfort and the support of crowds. It is a lonely road to victory but the only way is JESUS. But numbers in your congregation is no proof of reliability or truth. In fact it probably means they are following peddlers of the word, watering it down with lies.
Deu 32:30 “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the LORD had given them up?
But I wouid rather be on the winning side and march in Triumph following my General Jesus who is the ROCK Jesus.
“One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He [fn]promised you.
The majority doesn’t rule only the Truth does even if we are few that follow Him.
https://www.jimfeeney.org/peddling-word-God-for-profit.html
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Peddling the Word of God for Profit | Preacher, Don’t Do It!
Ever feel ‘taken’ by fundraising ministers? There’s a small minority who are treating God’s Word like profit-making merchandise. Avoid them!
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