In expressing his joy over their reconversion and their growth in grace, Paul ascribed to God all the praise for this transformation of heart and life. "Thanks be unto God," 326 he exclaimed, "which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." It was the custom of the day for a general victorious in warfare to bring with him on his return a train of captives. On such occasions incense bearers were appointed, and as the army marched triumphantly home, the fragrant odor was to the captives appointed to die, a savor of death, showing that they were nearing the time of their execution; but to those of the prisoners who had found favor with their captors, and whose lives were to be spared, it was a savor of life, in that it showed them that their freedom was near.

Mens Paulus gav udtryk for sin glæde over deres nyomvendelse og den voksende nåde, gav han Gud hele æren for denne forvandling af hjerte og liv. "Men Gud ske tak " udbryder han, "som altid fører os i sejrstog ved Kristus og ved os alle vegne åbenbarer kundskaben om ham som en liflig duft! Thi en Kristi vellugt er vi for Gud blandt dem, der frelses og blandt dem, der fortabes." Det var tidens skik, at en feltherre, der havde sejret i kampen, ved sin hjemkomst medbragte et følge af fanger. Ved den slags lejligheder var der mænd, der bar røgelsekar og når hæren triumferende nærmede sig hjemmet, var den vellugtende duft for fangerne, der ventede døden, en dødens duft og et tegn på, at tiden for deres henrettelse var nær; men for de af fangerne, der havde vundet sejrherrernes gunst og hvis liv skulle skånes, var den en livsens duft, fordi den viste dem, at deres frigivelse nærmede sig.