A Commentary of the Book of 2 Corinthians
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: King James Version
Bible Study 2 Corinthians 6: 1-18
Text:
6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Verse by verse commentary:
Verse 1: “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
One will observe in the biblical text that the phrase “with him” is italicized, indicating that these two words were supplied by the translators. The correct reading should be, “We then, as workers together.” Regarding receiving the “grace of God in vain,” note that one one can receive the grace of God ineffectually. God has continually bestowed His goodness and mercy upon us. To accept His profound goodness and to find joy in the salvation of God's grace, yet simultaneously to live a life characterized by worldliness and carnality, constitutes receiving the grace of God in vain. This prompts the following inquiry: What is the nature of our current response to the profound love coming from God's heart?
Verse 2: “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
The Bible teaches that when God offers salvation, the wisest response is to act immediately, before the opportunity passes. This "now" refers broadly to the entire gospel age, but more specifically to the very moment an individual receives God's offer of deliverance.
Verse 3: “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:”
To "give no offense" means to live in such a way that your conduct offers no grounds for anyone to discredit the salvation you claim to possess. In essence, your life should not cause others to lose confidence in the faith you profess.
Verse 4: “ but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,”
"Approving ourselves" signifies "introducing" oneself, specifically by providing proof. This proof is most convincingly demonstrated through the patient endurance of character, as seen in Paul's hardships and the essence of his ministry.
Verse 5: “ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;”
Paul endured many hardships in his ministry, experiences that few today encounter. Beyond physical "stripes"—forty blows with a rod—he was often hurt by insults, even from people who considered themselves pious. I, too, recall being wounded by the hurtful remark of a "seasoned saint." Once, a woman told me I would cause people to go to hell because I mentioned my martial arts background. I responded, "Ma'am, I don't have the power to save or cast anyone into hell. But, thank you for your generous remarks." Paul's list of familiar trials included imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings, and fastings.
Verse 6: “by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,”
The essential qualities for a minister, as outlined here, emphasize both personal character and professional acumen. Character and Spirit are paramount. Pureness is fundamental, as a lack of moral purity is a significant factor currently undermining the effectiveness of the ministry, making it deeply regrettable when a minister is found morally deficient; purity is of utmost importance to God. Longsuffering, a key manifestation of patience, is a necessary attribute. Kindness is also vital, as people deeply desire a pastor who demonstrates a tender, benevolent interest in their welfare. Finally, the minister must act By the Holy Ghost, making it critical that a preacher attempts to minister only under the guidance and direction of the Spirit of God. In terms of Knowledge and Understanding, Knowledge extends beyond a mere familiarity with the Word of God; a minister should possess a wide range of knowledge and remain current with the times in which they live.
Verse 7: “by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”
A minister should know the Bible, which is the "word of truth." The ability to preach "by the power of God" comes only as a pastor first spends time alone with God. Additionally, a minister must live rightly in all areas, embodying the "armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."
Verse 8: “by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;”
A balanced ministry is characterized by how it is received: some will approve, and some will disapprove ("By honour and dishonour"). We continue to serve the Lord despite those who speak ill of us ("By evil report"), yet we must be wary of flattery, which is more damaging than criticism. Although some may call us "deceivers," we are, in fact, speaking the true Word of God ("As deceivers, and yet true").
Verse 9: “as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;”
A minister of God might be "unknown" to the world yet is "well known" to God. Paul's statement, "As dying, and, behold, we live," signifies that he had embraced the path of death, but through Christ, he experienced new life. Furthermore, to be "chastened, and not killed" refers to the fact that he frequently endured persecution, including beatings, whippings, and stonings, yet he continued to live.
Verse 10: “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”
The Apostle Paul's life and ministry, as described in this passage, embodied striking paradoxes. His sorrow stemmed from the people's sins and rejection of the Gospel, yet his heart was always filled with rejoicing in Christ. He was "poor," but through his ministry, he was "making many rich." A cautionary note is given: a minister who becomes personally wealthy is a cause for suspicion, as those in ministry are not intended to become rich. Though "having nothing," he actually possessed "all things"—everything in the world, life, death, the present, and the future. This ultimate richness is affirmed by the truth: "...All are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s"—indicating the immense spiritual wealth believers possess, even while remaining poor in the world's eyes.
Verse 11: “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.”
In this letter, Paul shares his deepest emotions more openly than in any other. His declaration that his "heart is enlarged" is a powerful expression of his profound love for the recipients.
Verse 12: “ Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.”
The apostle's heart was overflowing with love for them, which is why he spoke to them so openly with gentle guidance and encouragement. He assures them, "Ye are not straitened in us,"; he genuinely desired to serve them and boost their comfort as a helper of their faith and joy. If they felt otherwise, the problem lay with them—it was because they were " ye are straitened in your own bowels," failing to respond appropriately due to misunderstandings about him. All he asked in return was a reciprocal affection, the love children should have for their father. This emphasizes a key point: a mutual, positive affection between ministers and their people is vital for both their shared comfort and spiritual benefit.
Verse 13: “Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.”
Paul's desire was for the Corinthians, whom he addressed as his children, to fully open their hearts to him and his teachings. He urged them to be receptive and embrace his instructions.
Verse 14: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”
Paul addresses the concept of being "yoked together" in a permanent commitment such as marriage, a business partnership, an academic professorship, or church membership. This verse does not pertain to supporting an evangelistic endeavor. Many ministers conduct their ministries differently than I do—and some have achieved a level of success far exceeding mine, which might suggest the correctness of their approach and the error of my own. While I am personally convinced of the validity of my current methodology and intend to maintain it, this conviction will not preclude me from maintaining fellowship with colleagues whose methods differ slightly, provided they proclaim the same Gospel and uphold the Bible as the inspired Word of God. Paul's subsequent elaboration clarifies that the focus is on refraining from forming binding associations with unbelievers.
Verse 15: “and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”
Satan is also referred to as "Belial." “Concord” means harmony.
Verse 16: “and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
God's presence, or dwelling place, has evolved throughout history. In the Old Testament, God resided with His people first in the tabernacle, and later in the temple built by Solomon. When Jesus Christ came, He was the ultimate and true temple of God. Now, under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit lives within believers, making them the new temple of God. This fulfills the Old Testament promise that God would dwell among His people (referencing Leviticus 26:11-12) for those who place their trust in Christ.
Verse 17: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
The command for separation, primarily drawn from Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:34 (with altered phrasing), specifically targets unbelievers. It is crucial to understand that these verses do not advocate for separation from fellow believers over non-essential differences, such as modes of baptism or choice of Bible translation. As the old saying goes, one must discern which issues are "a hill I am willing to die on." Compromise is unacceptable when the matter directly concerns salvation.
Verse 18: “and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Paul links the fulfillment of several Old Testament promises of God’s presence and favor directly to Christians' decision to separate themselves from moral impurity. Choosing to abandon moral defilement in order to receive the presence of the living God is presented as a wise and highly desirable choice.
