2 Corinthians 6:9

ὡς�. This does not mean that he was known to some and not known to others; but that his opponents said that he was an insignificant teacher, about whose authority nothing was known, and yet, he was ‘becoming well known’ to very many. Many were coming round to his side (2 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:2). The compound, ἐπιγιν., makes the antithesis more complete: comp. 1 Corinthians 13:12. Cremer, Lex. p. 159.

ὡς�. In this and the four remaining clauses the contrast between δυσφημία and fact no longer holds. Rather, the contrast, so far as there is one, is between different sides of the same fact. His adversaries may have rejoiced over him as a dying man, of whom they would soon be rid; but more probably the thought is similar to that in 2 Corinthians 4:10-11; he is always in a dying state, and he is always being revived in the life of Christ. This seems to be the view of both A.V. and R.V., which here drop ‘and yet,’ and have simply ‘and’ for καί. In his joyous recognition of the other side of the fact S. Paul changes the simple participle into ἰδοὺ ζῶμεν. It would have been much less forcible to say καὶ ζῶντες.

ὡς παιδευόμενοι καὶ μὴ θανατούμενοι. The present participles throughout 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 should be noted: as being chastened and not being killed. This is parallel to the preceding couplet, and it confirms the view that both members express, from different points of view, what is the fact. Both couplets seem to be taken from Psalms 118; οὐκ� … παιδεύων ἐπαίδευσέν με Κύριος, καὶ τῷ θανάτῳ οὐ παρέδωκέν με (17, 18). Here, as in the psalm, the chastening is that of God. Persecution by man, though not excluded, is not specially meant, having been mentioned in 2 Corinthians 6:5.