2 Corinthians 6:9

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; UNKNOWN, AND YET WELL KNOWN - "unknown" in our true character to, and held 'ignoble' by, those who "evil report" of us; "well known" to those who holds us in "good report" (): above all, "well known" to God (; ; ). DYING ... LIVE (; ; 2 Corinthians 4:10;...

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 Chri...

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:9. _AS UNKNOWN_] Persons who are to be suspected as harbouring dark designs; persons of neither birth, parentage, nor respectable connections in life; _AND_ YET _WELL KNOWN_] _Proved_ by our whole conduct to have no such designs, and demonstrated to be holy, upright, and useful, by the whole train of our peregrinations, through which we can be readily traced from place to place; having preached openly, and done nothing in a corner. _AS DYING_] Through continual dangers, fatigues, and persecutions; _AND, BEHOLD, WE LIVE_] We are preserved by the mighty power of God in the greatest dangers and deaths. _AS CHASTENED_] As though we were disobedient children; _AND NOT KILLED_] Though we co

AS UNKNOWN - As those who are deemed to be of an obscure and ignoble rank in life, unknown to the great, unknown to fame. The idea, I think, is, that they went as strangers, as persons unknown, in preaching the gospel. Yet, though thus unknown they endeavor to commend themselves as the ministers of God. Though among strangers; though having no introduction from the great and the noble, yet they endeavored so to act as to convince the world that they were the ministers of God. This could he done only by a holy life, and by the evidence of the divine approbation which would attend them in their work. And by this, the ministers of religion, if they are faithful, may make themselves known even among those who were strangers, and may live so as to “give no offence.” Every minister and every Christian, even when they are “unknown” and when among strangers, should remember their high character...

EXPOSITION The methods and conditions of an apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 6:1). Appeal to the Corinthians to reciprocate his affection and separate themselves from evil (2 Corinthians 6:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1 WE THEN, AS FELLOW WORKERS. Continuing the entreaty of 2 Corinthians 5:20, he adds, "But as [his] fellow workers we also exhort you." The "also" shows that he does not rest content with merely _entreating _them (δεόμεθα), but adds to the entreaty an exhortation emphasized by a self-sacrificing ministry. "Fellow worke

AS UNKNOWN, AND YET WELL KNOWN,.... Not unknown to Father, Son, and Spirit, or to one another, but to the world; and that not with respect to their outward estate, but their spiritual and eternal state; as that they were the chosen of God, the children of God, and born again; they knew not what a life they lived, or what they lived upon; and as they were unacquainted with their inward troubles, they were strangers to their spiritual joys here, and to what they shall partake of hereafter. Moreover, something more may be intended in this word "unknown"; as that they were not owned, esteemed, and approved of by them, but slighted, despised, hated, and persecuted: AND YET WELL KNOWN; to God the Father, who loved them with an everlasting love, chose them in Christ, gave them to him, made a covenant with him on their account, and sent his Son to redeem them, which knowledge of them is special...

2 Corinthians 6:1. _We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain._ God's servants are called to take many different positions. They are ambassadors under one aspect; they are workers under another. As ambassadors, they are ambassadors for Christ, as workers, they are workers together with God. Oh, how much it costs to win a soul! I mean, not only how much it cost the Saviour, so that he broke his very heart over it, and poured out his life's blood, but also how much it must cost the messenger of peace! He must know how to beseech and implore; and when even this fails, he must still go on toiling, labouring, as a worker together with God. 2 Corinthians 6:2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, a

7. THE EXAMPLE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL; HIS TESTINGS AND TRIALS. CHAPTER 6:1-13 He beseeches the Corinthians as coworkers, in view of the ministry of reconciliation, not to receive this grace of God in vain. This is not a contradiction of the doctrine of the security of a true believer. The apostle evidently was uneasy about some of these Corinthian Christians and feared that some had not received the grace of God in their hearts. Their conduct led him to this questioning. If the grace of God comes to man it may be received in vain and lead not to the blessed results in quickening power and real salvation for which it is given. “The security of His children is unquestionable, not so much through their perseverance, as men say, but by His power through faith; but the Corinthians needed and received faithful entreaty, for their ways were not such as became the gospel. They were compromising H...

2 Corinthians 5:20 to 2 Corinthians 6:10. Paul proceeds to expound and apply the relationship between himself and his converts based upon this ministry. He acts in Christ's stead when he beseeches men to allow themselves to be reconciled to God. And what Paul did for Christ, God did through Christ. Once more he points to the supreme illustration and proof of God's will to reconcile men. He had treated Christ, the Son of His love, though He had no experimental knowledge of sin, as though He had sinned and deserved the punishment of death. And He had done this for man's sake, in order that he might participate in the Divine righteousness. The strange expression made him to be sin is probably due to Paul's shrinking from saying made him a sinner, which would also have been open to misconception;

AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 ; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2)...