Bethesda Chapel 2001
SG Bible Study #8
An Aroma to Abba, God the Father (2 Cor 2:5-11)
Warm up songs (5 minutes)
Select songs that are related to the key words listed below or to the above theme.
Quiet Contemplation (3 minutes silence – no need to share)
Individual preparation before the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who searches deep in the
inner thoughts and hearts:
a) Confess known sins, pray for forgiveness and inner cleansing.
b) Thank God the Father (Abba) for the forgiveness in Christ.
Warm up exercise (6 minutes)
The BS leader can prepare samples A, B, C or D and pass them to the members (eyes
closed) and ask them to identify and describe the smell.
A) Incense: frankincense, myrrh, nard,
cinnamon;
B) From the kitchen: garlic, onion,
ginger, vinegar, kitchen rag;
C) Flowers: rose, chrysanthemum, jasmine,
frangipani.
D) Perfumes:
Sharing (two or three to share – 6 minutes)
For the smell, odour, fragrance or aroma experienced, identify or describe the smell and share why you like or do not like it.
Read the selected passage
Text: 2 Cor 2:14-17
Literal translation
14But unto God thanks (charis) who always leads us in
triumph in Christ
and the fragrance
(hosmen) of the knowledge of him
is
manifesting through us in every place.
15For we are an aroma of
Christ (euodia) to God
among
those who are being saved
and
among those who are perishing;
16to
the one a fragrance (hosme) from death to death;
but
to the other a fragrance (hosme) from life to life.
And for that (task) who is worthy/sufficient?
17For we are not like
the many (the rest) who are peddling (for profit) the word of God,
on
the contrary, like (men) of sincerity, and like (men) from God,
before
God in Christ we speak.
Context
v17 is another evidence that shows Paul indignation over those who
challenged his apostleship. Paul refers to those who demanded proofs that Christ was
speaking through him (2 Cor 13:2,3).
Key words and meanings (for reference and in depth study only)
a) leads (us) in triumph (thiambeuonti) not cause (us) to triumph (KJV)
- in a Roman triumphal procession through the public,
the victorious general with his soldiers leads
the wretched prisoners-of-war. Not all
the details of this picture should not be pressed.
- Col 2:15 "he disarmed the powers and the
authorities, disgrace the public, triumphing
over (thiambeusas) them in
Him."
b) fragrance or odor (3x hosmen) – old classical Greek term for all sorts
of odors, stench or evil smell (Jon 6:7 LXX) and pleasant odors as of spices or perfumes
(lit. Jn 12:3).
- the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ
c) sweet smell (1x euodia)
- a fragrance of sweet smell (hosme euodias) Eph 5:2; Phil 4:18; Lev 1:9,13,17; Num 15:7 LXX;
see the move from OT animal sacrifice to
NT spiritual sacrifice, cf Rom 12:1)
d) incense (thumiama) Lk 1:11; Rev 8:3; 18:13
e) being saved – from life to life (see 1 Cor 1:18 cf Rom 1:16)
f) perishing - from death to death
Discussion questions
Text: 2 Cor 2:5-11
Q1. What is the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ?
Q2. How can the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ be a sweet smelling fragrance to one and also be a stench of death to another?
Q3. How can Christians be a sweet-smelling fragrance of Christ to God?
Possible Applications
In your social interaction with people in your home, school, workplace or recreational places, what acts can you do to build bridges to them?
Break into twos or threes and share one possible application and pray for one another.
1) Take out your Operation Andrew cards, and share an act or an
event that you can plan to do in order to be a sweet-smelling fragrance (euodia) to one of your friends/relatives in the coming
weeks, AND/OR
2) What commitment is required of you in order to be a
sweet-smelling fragrance of Christ to God.
Close the Meeting
With a closing prayer and thanksgiving or
dismiss quietly for refreshments (if any).