2 Corinthians Chapter 6
1 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain,
2 for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 by glory 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 punished, and not killed;
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13 Now in return, I speak as to my children: you also open your hearts.
14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people."
17 Therefore " 'Come out from amongst them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty."
Footnotes
- Verse 2
- Isaiah 49:8
- Verse 16
- Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
- Verse 17
- Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41
- Verse 18
- 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
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2 Corinthians Chapter 6 Guide
The injunction, "We intreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain," harmonizes in method with many others used by Paul. Let your conduct harmonize with your position in grace. With what powerful argument does he make his appeal! As "ambassadors on behalf of Christ," as though God were "intreating by us," "working together with Him we intreat." These arguments are made powerful by the method of all the apostle's ministry, which he goes on to describe.
These descriptions may be divided into groups: first, actual bodily toil endured in "patience ... afflictions ... distresses ... stripes ... imprisonments ... tumults ... labours ... watchings ... fastings"; and all these in much patience. He then passes to facts which are mental: "pureness ... knowledge ... longsuffering ... kindness." And, finally, to those which are spiritual: "The Holy Spirit ... love unfeigned ... the word of truth ... the power of God ... the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left."
The apostle broke out in his second appeal for consecration. The best possible analysis of this is dividing it into appeals and arguments. The appeals are: "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers," "Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate ... and touch no unclean thing," "Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." The arguments are, first, a series of questions, and then the recitation of great promises: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." "I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, and ye shall be to Me sons and daughters."
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
2 Corinthians Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The apostle, with others, proved themselves faithful ministers of Christ, by their unblamable life and behaviour. -- (1-10)
- By affection for them, And by earnest concern, that they might have no fellowship with unbelievers and idolaters. -- (11-18)
Verses 1-10
The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.
Verses 11-18
It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.