9 As G5613 unknown, G50 and G2532 yet well known; G1921 as G5613 dying, G599 and, G2532 behold, G2400 we live; G2198 as G5613 chastened, G3811 and G2532 not G3361 killed; G2289
Always G3842 bearing about G4064 in G1722 the body G4983 the dying G3500 of the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that G2443 the life G2222 also G2532 of Jesus G2424 might be made manifest G5319 in G1722 our G2257 body. G4983 For we G2249 which G3588 live G2198 are G3860 alway G104 G1063 delivered G3860 unto G1519 death G2288 for G1223 Jesus' G2424 sake, G1223 that G2443 the life G2222 also G2532 of Jesus G2424 might be made manifest G5319 in G1722 our G2257 mortal G2349 flesh. G4561
But G1161 though G1499 I be rude G2399 in speech, G3056 yet G235 not G3756 in knowledge; G1108 but G235 we have been throughly G1722 G3956 made manifest G5319 among G1519 you G5209 in G1722 all things. G3956
For G1063 we would G2309 not, G3756 brethren, G80 have G50 you G5209 ignorant G50 of G5228 our G2257 trouble G2347 which G3588 came G1096 to us G2254 in G1722 Asia, G773 that G3754 we were pressed G2596 out G916 of measure, G5236 above G5228 strength, G1411 insomuch G5620 that we G2248 despaired G1820 even G2532 of life: G2198 But G235 G846 we had G2192 the sentence G610 of death G2288 in G1722 ourselves, G1438 that G3363 we should G3982 not G3363 trust G3982 in G1909 ourselves, G1438 G5600 but G235 in G1909 God G2316 which G3588 raiseth G1453 the dead: G3498 Who G3739 delivered G4506 us G2248 from G1537 so great G5082 a death, G2288 and G2532 doth deliver: G4506 in G1519 whom G3739 we trust G1679 that G3754 he will G4506 G2532 yet G2089 deliver G4506 us;
And G1161 was G2252 unknown G50 by face G4383 unto the churches G1577 of Judaea G2449 which G3588 were in G1722 Christ: G5547 But G1161 they had G2258 heard G191 only, G3440 That G3754 he which persecuted G1377 us G2248 in times past G4218 now G3568 preacheth G2097 the faith G4102 which G3739 once G4218 he destroyed. G4199 And G2532 they glorified G1392 God G2316 in G1722 me. G1698
Knowing G1492 therefore G3767 the terror G5401 of the Lord, G2962 we persuade G3982 men; G444 but G1161 we are made manifest G5319 unto God; G2316 and G1161 I trust G1679 also G2532 are made manifest G5319 in G1722 your G5216 consciences. G4893
But G235 have renounced G550 the hidden things G2927 of dishonesty, G152 not G3361 walking G4043 in G1722 craftiness, G3834 nor G3366 handling G1389 the word G3056 of God G2316 deceitfully; G1389 but G235 by manifestation G5321 of the truth G225 commending G4921 ourselves G1438 to G4314 every G3956 man's G444 conscience G4893 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316
I shall not die, H4191 but live, H2421 and declare H5608 the works H4639 of the LORD. H3050 The LORD H3050 hath chastened H3256 me sore: H3256 but he hath not given me over H5414 unto death. H4194
But G1161 when we are judged, G2919 we are chastened G3811 of G5259 the Lord, G2962 that G3363 we should G2632 not G3363 be condemned G2632 with G4862 the world. G2889
Through G1722 mighty G1411 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders, G5059 by G1722 the power G1411 of the Spirit G4151 of God; G2316 so G5620 that from G575 Jerusalem, G2419 and G2532 round about G2945 unto G3360 Illyricum, G2437 I G3165 have fully preached G4137 the gospel G2098 of Christ. G5547
Of G4012 whom G3739 I have G2192 no G3756 certain G804 thing G5100 to write G1125 unto my lord. G2962 Wherefore G1352 I have brought G4254 him G846 forth G4254 before G1909 you, G5216 and G2532 specially G3122 before G1909 thee, G4675 O king G935 Agrippa, G67 that, G3704 after examination G351 had, G1096 I might have G2192 somewhat G5100 to write. G1125
But G1161 had G2192 certain G5100 questions G2213 against G4314 him G846 of G4012 their own G2398 superstition, G1175 and G2532 of G4012 one G5100 Jesus, G2424 which was dead, G2348 whom G3739 Paul G3972 affirmed G5335 to be alive. G2198
And G1161 when G5613 they had been G1304 there G1563 many G4119 days, G2250 Festus G5347 declared G394 Paul's G3972 cause G2596 unto the king, G935 saying, G3004 There is G2076 a certain G5100 man G435 left G2641 in bonds G1198 by G5259 Felix: G5344 About G4012 whom, G3739 when G1096 I G3450 was G1096 at G1519 Jerusalem, G2414 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the elders G4245 of the Jews G2453 informed G1718 me, desiring G154 to have judgment G1349 against G2596 him. G846
And G5037 as Paul G3972 was to be G3195 led G1521 into G1519 the castle, G3925 he said G3004 unto the chief captain, G5506 May G1487 G1832 I G3427 speak G2036 G5100 unto G4314 thee? G4571 G1161 Who G3588 said, G5346 Canst thou speak G1097 Greek? G1676 Art G1488 not G3756 thou G4771 G686 that Egyptian, G124 which before G4253 these G5130 days G2250 madest an uproar, G387 and G2532 leddest out G1806 into G1519 the wilderness G2048 four thousand G5070 men G435 that were murderers? G4607
Moreover G2532 ye see G2334 and G2532 hear, G191 that G3754 not G3756 alone G3440 at Ephesus, G2181 but G235 almost G4975 throughout all G3956 Asia, G773 this G3778 Paul G3972 hath persuaded G3982 and turned away G3179 much G2425 people, G3793 saying G3004 that G3754 they be G1526 no G3756 gods, G2316 which G3588 are made G1096 with G1223 hands: G5495
Then G1161 certain G5100 philosophers G5386 of the Epicureans, G1946 and G2532 of the Stoicks, G4770 encountered G4820 him. G846 And G2532 some G5100 said, G3004 What G5101 will G302 G2309 this G3778 babbler G4691 say? G3004 G1161 other some, He seemeth G1380 to be G1511 a setter forth G2604 of strange G3581 gods: G1140 because G3754 he preached G2097 unto them G846 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 the resurrection. G386
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
2Co 6:1-18. His Apostolic Ministry Is Approved by Faithfulness in Exhortation, in Sufferings, in Exhibition of the Fruits of the Holy ghost: His Largeness of Heart to Them Calls for Enlargement of Their Heart to Him. Exhortations to Separation from Pollution.
1. workers together—with God (Ac 15:4; 1Co 3:9). Not only as "ambassadors."
beseech—entreat (2Co 5:20). He is describing his ministry, not exhorting directly.
you also—rather, "WE ALSO (as well as God, 2Co 5:20) beseech" or "entreat you": 2Co 6:14, 15, on to 2Co 7:1, is part of this entreaty or exhortation.
in vain—by making the grace of God a ground for continuance in sin (2Co 6:3). By a life of sin, showing that the word of reconciliation has been in vain, so far as you are concerned (Heb 12:15; Jude 4). "The grace of God" here, is "the reconciliation" provided by God's love (2Co 5:18, 19; compare Ga 2:2).
2. For—God's own promise is the ground of our exhortation.
he saith—God the Father saith to God the Son, and so to all believers who are regarded as one with Him.
heard thee—In the eternal purposes of my love I have hearkened to thy prayer for the salvation of thy people (compare Joh 17:9, 15, 20, 24).
accepted … accepted—The Greek of the latter is more emphatic, "well-accepted." What was "an accepted time" in the prophecy (Isa 49:8, Hebrew, "in the season of grace") becomes "the well-accepted time" in the fulfilment (compare Ps 69:13). As it is God's time of receiving sinners, receive ye His grace: accept (2Co 6:1) the word of reconciliation in His accepted time.
in the day of salvation—"in a day of salvation" (Lu 4:18, 19, 21; 19:42; Heb 3:7).
3. Resuming the connection with 2Co 6:1, interrupted by the parenthetical 2Co 6:2. "Giving no offense" (compare 1Co 10:33), "approving ourselves," and all the other participles down to 2Co 6:10, are nominatives to "we also entreat you" (2Co 6:1), to show the pains he took to enforce his exhortation by example, as well as precept [Alford]. "Offense" would be given, if we were without "patience" and the other qualifications which he therefore subjoins (compare Ro 14:13).
4. Translate, to mark the true order of the Greek words, "in everything, as God's ministers recommending ourselves," that is, that our hearers may give our message a favorable hearing, through our consistency in every respect, not that they may glorify us. Alluding to 2Co 3:1, he implies, We commend ourselves, not like them by word, but by deed.
patience—(2Co 12:12). Put first. "Pure-minded" follows (2Co 6:6). Three triplets of trials exercising the "patience" (patient endurance) follow: Afflictions (or "tribulations"), necessities, distresses (or "straits"); stripes, imprisonments, tumults; labors, watchings, fastings. The first triplet expresses afflictions generally; the second, those in particular arising from the violence of men; the third, those which he brought on himself directly or indirectly.
5. stripes—(2Co 11:23, 24; Ac 16:23).
imprisonments—(2Co 11:23). He had been, doubtless, elsewhere imprisoned besides at Philippi when he wrote this Epistle.
tumults—(Ac 13:50; 14:5, 19; 16:22; and recently Ac 19:23-41).
labours—in the cause of Christ (2Co 11:23; Ro 16:12).
watchings—(2Co 11:27). Sleepless nights.
fastings—The context here refers to his trials, rather than devotional exercises (compare 2Co 11:27). Thus "foodlessness" would seem to be the sense (compare 1Co 4:11; Php 4:12). But the usual sense of the Greek is fasts, in the strict sense; and in 2Co 11:27 it is spoken of independently of "hunger and thirst." (Compare Lu 2:37; Ac 10:30; 14:23). However, Mt 15:32; Mr 8:3, justify the sense, more favored by the context, foodlessness, though a rare use of the word. Gaussen remarks "The apostles combine the highest offices with the humblest exterior: as everything in the Church was to be cast in the mould of death and resurrection, the cardinal principle throughout Christianity."
6. By … by, &c.—rather, as Greek, "In … in," implying not the instrument, but the sphere or element in which his ministry moved.
knowledge—spiritual: in Gospel mysteries, unattainable by mere reason (1Co 2:6-16; 2Co 3:6, 17, 18).
long-suffering … kindness—associated with "charity" or "love" (1Co 13:4), as here.
by the Holy Ghost—in virtue of His influences which produce these graces, and other gifts, "love unfeigned" being the foremost of them.
7. By the word of truth, by the power of God—rather, "In … in," &c. As to "the word of truth" (compare 2Co 4:2; Col 1:5), and "the (miraculous) power of God" (2Co 4:7); 1Co 2:4, "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
by the armour—Greek, "through" or "by means of the armor." "Righteousness," which is the breastplate alone in Eph 6:13-17, here is made the whole Christian panoply (compare 2Co 10:4).
on … right … and … left—that is, guarding on every side.
8. Translate, "Through glory and dishonor (disgrace)," namely, from those in authority, and accruing to us present. "By," or "through evil report and good report," from the multitude, and affecting us absent [Bengel]. Regarded "as deceivers" by those who, not knowing (2Co 6:9), dishonor and give us an evil report; "as true," by those who "know" (2Co 6:9) us in the real "glory" of our ministry. In proportion as one has more or less of glory and good report, in that degree has he more or less of dishonor and evil report.
9. unknown … yet well known—"unknown" in our true character to those who "evil report" of us, "well known" to those who hold us in "good report" (2Co 6:8). Conybeare explains, "Unknown by men, yet acknowledged by God" (1Co 13:12). Perhaps both God and men (believers) are intended as knowing him (2Co 5:11; 11:6).
dying … live—(2Co 1:9; 4:10, 11; 11:23). Compare Gaussen's remark, see on 2Co 6:5. "Behold" calls attention to the fact as something beyond all expectation.
chastened … not killed—realizing Ps 118:18.
10. The "as" no longer is used to express the opinion of his adversaries, but the real state of him and his fellow laborers.
making many rich—Spiritually (1Co 1:5), after the example of our Lord, who "by His poverty made many rich" (2Co 8:9).
having nothing—Whatever of earthly goods we have, and these are few, we have as though we had not; as tenants removable at will, not owners (1Co 7:30).
possessing all things—The Greek implies firm possession, holding fast in possession (compare 1Co 3:21, 22). The things both of the present and of the future are, in the truest sense, the believer's in possession, for he possesses them all in Christ, his lasting possession, though the full fruition of them is reserved for the future eternity.
11. mouth … open unto you—I use no concealment, such as some at Corinth have insinuated (2Co 4:2). I use all freedom and openness of speech to you as to beloved friends. Hence he introduces here, "O Corinthians" (compare Php 4:15). The enlargement of his heart towards them (2Co 7:3) produced his openness of mouth, that is, his unreserved expression of his inmost feelings. As an unloving man is narrow in heart, so the apostle's heart is enlarged by love, so as to take in his converts at Corinth, not only with their graces, but with their many shortcomings (compare 1Ki 4:29; Ps 119:32; Isa 60:5).
12. Any constraint ye feel towards me, or narrowness of heart, is not from want of largeness of heart on my part towards you, but from want of it on your part towards me.
bowels—that is, affections (compare 2Co 12:15).
not straitened in us—that is, for want of room in our hearts to take you in.
13. Translate, "As a recompense in the same kind … be enlarged also yourselves" [Ellicott]. "In the same way" as my heart is enlarged towards you (2Co 6:11), and "as a recompense" for it (Ga 4:12).
I speak as unto my children—as children would naturally be expected to recompense their parents' love with similar love.
14. Be not—Greek, "Become not."
unequally yoked—"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Le 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (De 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare De 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also 1Co 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (2Co 6:16; 1Co 8:10; 10:14).
fellowship—literally, "share," or "participation."
righteousness—the state of the believer, justified by faith.
unrighteousness—rather, as always translated elsewhere, "iniquity"; the state of the unbeliever, the fruit of unbelief.
light—of which believers are the children (1Th 5:5).
15. Belial—Hebrew, "worthlessness, unprofitableness, wickedness." As Satan is opposed to God, and Antichrist to Christ; Belial being here opposed to Christ, must denounce all manner of Antichristian uncleanness [Bengel].
he that believeth with an infidel—Translate, "a believer with an unbeliever."
16. agreement—accordance of sentiments (compare 1Ki 18:21; Eph 5:7, 11).
the temple of God—that is, you believers (1Co 3:16; 6:19).
with idols—Compare Dagon before the ark (1Sa 5:2-4).
as—"even as God said." Quotation from Le 26:12; Jer 31:33; 32:38; Eze 37:26, 27; compare Mt 28:20; Joh 14:23.
walk in them—rather, "among them." As "dwell" implies the divine presence, so "walk," the divine operation. God's dwelling in the body and soul of saints may be illustrated by its opposite, demoniacal possession of body and soul.
my people—rather, "they shall be to me a people."
17. Quoted from Isa 52:11, with the freedom of one inspired, who gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit.
be ye separate—"be separated" (Ho 4:17).
touch not the unclean thing—rather, "anything unclean" (2Co 7:1; Mic 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing.
receive you—The Greek implies, "to myself"; as persons heretofore out of doors, but now admitted within (2Co 5:1-10). With this accords the clause, "Come out from among them," namely, so as to be received to me. So Eze 20:41, "I will accept you"; and Zep 3:19, "gather her that was driven out." "The intercourse of believers with the world should resemble that of angels, who, when they have been sent a message from heaven, discharge their office with the utmost promptness, and joyfully fly back home to the presence of God" (1Co 7:31; 5:9, 10).
18. Translate, "I will be to you in the relation of a Father, and ye shall be to me in the relation of sons and daughters." This is a still more endearing relation than (2Co 6:16), "I will be their God, and they … My people." Compare the promise to Solomon (1Ch 28:6; Isa 43:6; Re 21:3, 7; Jer 31:1, 9).
Lord Almighty—The Lord the Universal Ruler: nowhere else found but in Revelation. The greatness of the Promiser enhances the greatness of the promises.