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  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures
    • 16 to the latter ones an odor* of death leading to death,+ to the former ones a fragrance of life leading to life. And who is adequately qualified for these things?

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
    • 16 οἷς to which ones μὲν indeed ὀσμὴ odor ἐκ out of θανάτου death εἰς into θάνατον, death, οἷς to which ones δὲ but ὀσμὴ odor ἐκ out of ζωῆς life εἰς into ζωήν. life. καὶ And πρὸς toward ταῦτα these (things) τίς who ἱκανός; sufficient?

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures—With References
    • 16 to the latter ones an odor issuing from death to death,+ to the former ones an odor issuing from life to life. And who is adequately qualified for these things?+

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    The Bible in Living English
    • 16 to these an odor from death, to death, but to those an odor from life, to life. And for this who is adequate?

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    American Standard Version
    • 16 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?

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    The Emphasized Bible
    • 16 In these indeed a fragrance out of death into death, But in those a fragrance out of life into life. And for these things who is sufficient?

  • 2 Corinthians 2:16
    King James Version
    • 16 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?

  • 2 Corinthians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1986-2025
    • 2:16 it-2 1128; w10 8/1 23; w08 7/15 28; w05 9/1 31; w90 7/15 11-12; w90 11/15 27

  • 2 Corinthians
    Watch Tower Publications Index 1930-1985
    • 2:16 w85 9/1 21-26; w80 6/1 27; w77 576; ad 1617; qm 10; w58 523; w55 632; w44 133

  • 2 Corinthians
    Research Guide for Jehovah’s Witnesses—2019 Edition
    • 2:16

      Insight, Volume 2, p. 1128

      The Watchtower,

      8/1/2010, p. 23

      7/15/2008, p. 28

      9/1/2005, p. 31

      11/15/1990, p. 27

      7/15/1990, pp. 11-12

  • 2 Corinthians Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
    • 2:16

      an odor: Or “a fragrance.” The Greek word o·smeʹ occurs twice in this verse, once in the expression “an odor of death” and once in the expression “a fragrance of life.” The Greek term may refer to a pleasant odor, or scent (Joh 12:3; 2Co 2:14, 16; Eph 5:2; Php 4:18), or to an unpleasant one. At Isa 34:3 in the Septuagint, it refers to “the stench of . . . carcasses.” Here at 2Co 2:16, the figurative odor is the same in both occurrences; it represents the message proclaimed by Jesus’ disciples. In a literal triumphal procession, captives would be paraded in front of the crowd and then executed at the end of the procession. To them, the fragrance would be “an odor of death.” In Paul’s illustration, what made this odor pleasant or unpleasant was the reaction of individuals to the message. The message was “a fragrance of life” to those receiving it appreciatively, but it was “an odor of death” to those rejecting it.

      for these things: That is, for this kind of ministry that Paul has described in the preceding verses. Thus, Paul asks who is adequately qualified to act as a true minister of God and to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.

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