2nd Corinthians Chapter 6
From The Open Bible Project
6:1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,
- (1) Men do not only need the ministry of the Gospel before they have received grace, in order that they may be partakers of the Gospel, but also after they have received grace they need to continue in it.
6:2 for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you."[4] Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
- (2) In that grace is offered, it is by the grace of God, who has appointed times and seasons to all things, that we may take occasion when it is offered.
- (a) Which I of my free mercy and love towards you liked and appointed. And at this time God poured out his marvellous love upon us.
6:3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
- (3) He shows the Corinthians a pattern of a true minister in his own example, and in Timothy and Silvanus, to the end that he might procure authority for himself and his companions like him, as he purposed from the beginning.
6:4 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
- (b) Declare and indeed show.
- (4) He first of all reckons up those things which are neither always in the ministers, nor without exception, unless they are there according to the minister’s bodily condition. Patience, however, is an exception, which also is one of the virtues which ought to always be in a good minister.
6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
- (c) In tossing to and fro, finding no place of rest and quietness.
6:6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
- (5) Secondly he reckons up such virtues as are necessary, and ought alway be in them, and by which as by good armour, all pitfalls and hindrances may be overcome.
6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
- (d) Preaching of the Gospel.
- (e) Power to work miracles, and to subdue the wicked.
- (f) Uprightness.
6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
6:9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;
6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
6:11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
- (6) Going about to rebuke them he says first that he deals with them sincerely and with an open and plain heart, and in addition complains that they do not do the same in loving their Father.
- (g) The opening of the mouth and heart signifies a most earnest affection in him that speaks, as it happens commonly with those that are in some great joy.
6:12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
- (h) You are in my heart as in a house, and that no narrow or confined house, for I have opened my whole heart to you; but you are inwardly narrow towards me.
- (i) After the manner of the Hebrews, he calls those tender affections which rest in the heart, "bowels".
6:13 Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.
6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
- (7) Now he rebukes them boldly, because they became fellows with infidels in outward idolatry, as though it were an indifferent thing. And this is the fourth part of this epistle, the conclusion of which is, that those whom the Lord has condescended to in calling them his children, must keep themselves pure, not only in mind, but also in body, that they may be completely holy to the Lord.
6:15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
- (k) What can there be between them?
6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."[5]
- (l) He sets the living God against idols.
- (m) God dwells with us, because Christ has become God with us.
6:17 Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.[6]
6:18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."[7]
