2 Corinthians 2:15-16 - what does this passage mean? Peace, grace and blessings everyone!  I’m new to this board. I look forward to everyone's answer.


  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being
  saved and among those who are perishing;to the one an aroma from death
  to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate
  for these things? 2 Cor. 2:15-16


Now my focus is where it says “to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life”

What I'd like to know and understand is whether the “death unto death” is a statement referring to those who are “perishing” or to those who are being “saved”?

I may be in the minority, but I believe the "death unto death" is referring to those being "saved" and the "life unto life" to those who are perishing. 

I say that base these passages:


  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm
  116:15
  
  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the
  earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
  John 12:24
  
  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
  Jesus have been baptized into His death? Rom 6:3
  
  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
  his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. Luke 9:24


It seems to me that understanding our union and death in Christ is what brings "death unto death" which is indeed "precious in His sight" because I believe God wants us to understand that it takes a death to bring real life. The more that we know that nature of Adam was crucified and buried, the more we awaken to our union and oneness with God because of Christ For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.(1 Cor 15:22) And so to those who are then "perishing" (no knowledge or intimacy with God) the message of the cross and reconciliation can become "life unto life" once they believe and receive the free gift of salvation.

If we believe that it pleases Him that the aroma of those in Christ who minister the message of love and grace brings"death unto death" to those who are "perishing", then I beleive it contradicts what God says to Ezekiel:


  Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord
  God...Ezk 18:23


Would love to hear what others think.  Thanks!
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 - what does this passage mean?


  2 Corinthians 2:15-16  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ,
  in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 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?


Paul uses the human faculty of sensation perception through chemicals in the air we know of as odor. He is saying that there is something distinct about Christians that is specifically discernable to God, the unsaved, and to other Christians.

When God perceives us, he is pleased to consider the life of Christ in us as a sweet reminder of all that is Jesus.

When the unsaved perceive us they also are able to detect something of Christ.


  John 3:19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the
  world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
  were evil.
  
  John 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but
  because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
  world, therefore the world hateth you.


It may be that the unsaved perceive at some level their own eventual doom and see in Christians that which is odious.

It is also possible for a Christian to perceive another Christian like the encounter of a pleasant smell.

Philippians 4:18  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.