The connection between sacrifice and smell gives Paul, now with Christ’s sacrifice in mind, the imagery to speak of the “aroma of Christ,” and the fragrance of the knowledge of God (2 Cor. Christians could look to Genesis 8:20, where some inspired literary license describes God as “smelling the pleasing odor” rising from Noah’s sacrifice. ![]() The use of “olfactory imagery” was rooted in ritual sacrifice and ingrained in religious liturgy, writing and popular piety. In the world of the early Church, it was natural to employ a vocabulary of smell to articulate and preach the Gospel. We talk (usually metaphorically) about seeing holiness, hearing the Lord’s voice, feeling the presence of God, or even tasting that the Lord is good (Psalm 34). But we frequently use such sense-metaphors to describe things spiritual. Hint: Yankee Candle doesn't make that scentĪn odd question, perhaps.
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