Paul breaks off the narrative of his itinerary and characteristically allows his spontaneour spirit to carry him into a lengthy digression (the narrative is not resumed until 7:5). The digression, however, is quite relevant to the main tenor of this letter, for it is an immensely rich outpouring of triumphant faith in praise of the unfailing adequacy of the grace of God for every conceivable situation, no matter how threatening and destructive it may seem to be.
The imagery is that of a Roman triumph in which the victorious general would lead his soldiers and the captives they had taken in a festive procession. At the same time, the people watched and applauded, and the air was filled with the sweet smell released by the burning of spices in the streets. So the Christian, called to spiritual warfare, is triumphantly led by God in Christ, and it is through him that God spreads everywhere the “fragrance” of the knowledge of Christ.
As the gospel aroma is released in the world through Christian testimony, it is always sweet-smelling, even though it may be differently received. The two ultimate categories of mankind are “those who are being saved and those who are perishing (15). To the latter, testifying Christians are the smell of death, not because the gospel message has become evil-smelling or death-dealing, but because in rejecting the life-giving grace of God, unbelievers choose death for themselves. To those who welcome the gospel of God’s grace, Christians with their testimony are the fragrance of life. Who is equal to such a task? God, who is the competence of the Christian (3:5). Keep spreading the sweet-smelling gospel.
