For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
The Greek order is, 'For (it is) of Christ (that) we are a sweet savour unto God:' the "for" justifies his previous (2 Corinthians 2:14), "the savour of HIS (Christ's) knowledge." We not only scatter, but 'we are the sweet savour' (Song of Solomon 1:3: cf. Ephesians 5:2, which suggests that the image in "savour" here is not that of incense, but of Christ's sacrifice. God accepts (Leviticus 1:9-17) my Gospel service in making it known, whether I convince men through His grace or fail through my hearers' fault.
In them that are saved - rather (not referring to two unalterable states, but to men's different ways of treating the Gospel offer), 'that are being saved ... that are perishing' (note, 1 Corinthians 1:18). As the light, though it blinds the weak, is for all that still light; and honey, though it taste bitter to the sick, is in itself still sweet; so the Gospel is of a sweet savour, though many perish through unbelief (Chrysostom) (2 Corinthians 3:1; 2 Corinthians 4:6). As some of the conquered in a triumph were put to death when the procession reached the capitol, and to them the incense was the "savour of death," while to those saved it was the "savour of life," so the Gospel was to the different classes respectively.