I Love to Smell the Story

St. Paul speaks about a previous letter he had written to the Corinthians. Although there had been pain and anguish of heart, he had only written out of love for these Christians. Now that the one who had been caught up in sin had been brought to repentant sorrow, the church needed to turn and comfort this man with Christ’s forgiveness, lest Satan outwit God’s people. St. Paul gives thanks to God that He leads His Church in triumphal procession, spreading the aroma of Christ in the world. Although it is a stench among unbelievers, this aroma leads to life for all those who hold onto Christ and His Word in faith. Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain at the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Corinthians 2:3-17. “A Letter of Comfort” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the epistle of 2 Corinthians. St. Paul writes again to the Christians in Corinth to bring them the ongoing comfort of the Gospel in the midst of the attacks of false doctrine from so-called “super apostles.” He seeks to give confidence to the Corinthians—and to us—that the good news of Christ crucified and risen proclaimed by His called ministers will accomplish all that He intends.