What Does 2 Corinthians 2:15 Mean in the King James?
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same fragrance of the anointed one rises to God among both those being delivered and those perishing.
THE MEANING
You are met by one fragrance, the presence of the anointed one, while your life stands among two unfolding directions: being delivered or perishing. The verse holds both conditions before God as places where that fragrance is present. The next verse reveals how differently it is received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that the presence of Christ is absent from those who are perishing; this verse places his fragrance among both.
THE ROOT
σωζομένοις
sōzomenois
GROWS FROM
σῴζω
sōzō
Deliver, rescue, preserve, or bring safely through.
The Greek form describes people being delivered, with the movement still unfolding. The word carries the sense of rescue and preservation, giving “saved” the texture of being brought through.
ALSO GROWS
sōtēria: deliverance, rescue
σωτηρία
This related noun names the rescue itself, keeping the verse’s emphasis on being brought through.
sōtēr: deliverer, rescuer
σωτήρ
This related word names the one who brings another through, making deliverance an active relationship.
ἀπολλυμένοις
apollymenois
GROWS FROM
ἀπόλλυμι
apollymi
To lose, ruin, destroy, or perish.
“perish” in this verse is apollymenois. This form also describes an unfolding condition: people in the process of perishing. The word holds both destruction and loss, so the verse places that movement beside the movement of deliverance.
ALSO GROWS
apōleia: loss, ruin, destruction
ἀπώλεια
This related noun makes explicit the loss carried within the path described as perishing.
apolōlos: lost, one who has been lost
ἀπολωλός
This related form describes someone as lost, revealing the language of perishing as loss as well as destruction.
Χριστοῦ
Christou
GROWS FROM
χρίω
chriō
To anoint, to rub or smear with oil.
“Christ” names the anointed one; it is a title carrying the nature of anointing. The fragrance in this verse belongs to the anointed one, making it a particular presence rather than a vague spiritual atmosphere.
ALSO GROWS
christos: anointed one
χριστός
This title names the one whose fragrance is present in both conditions.
chrisma: anointing, anointing oil
χρῖσμα
This related word preserves the image of anointing behind the title and the fragrance.
THE PATTERN
A gift or self-offering can become a fragrance received by God.
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.THE THREAD
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?Verse 16 unfolds what verse 15 compresses: the same fragrance is received as death by one and life by another. Those two directions echo the ones being delivered and the ones perishing.
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