2 Corinthians 6:1-10. How God's Ministers carry on this Work of Reconciliation 1. _We then, as workers together with him_ Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9, which, together with the context here, shews that our translators, following the Geneva Version, rightly supply -with Him" here. The earlier translations... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he saith_ In Isaiah 49:8. The passage follows the LXX. translation. _I have heard thee in a time accepted_ The words in the original refer to Christ. Here, however, they are applied to His Covenant people, united to Him by faith and the communication of His Nature, and therefore naturally enti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Giving no offence in any thing_ This verse is closely connected in sense with _v_, 1. St Paul now enters upon a long passage in which he shews how the -ministry of reconciliation" is practically carried on. The demeanour of the Apostles towards those among whom they preached the Gospel is as forcib... [ Continue Reading ]
_approving_ The word is the same as is translated -commend" in ch. 2 Corinthians 3:1, and there is an obvious reference here to 2 Corinthians 6:1 of that chapter. _as the ministers of God_ There is an ambiguity in the A. V. here. The Apostle means -we, as ministers of God, recommend ourselves to th... [ Continue Reading ]
_in stripes_ Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 11:23-24; Acts 16:23. _in imprisonments_ Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 11:23. The Acts of the Apostles, up to this date, records only one such, namely that at Philippi, Acts 16:23-40. But the Acts is far from recording all the events of St Paul's life. See notes on ch. 11... [ Continue Reading ]
_by pureness_ The preposition in the Greek is not changed here, though the Apostle turns from outward to inward signs of his sincerity, a change marked in our version by the use of -by" for -in." Wiclif and the Rhemish, following the Vulgate, give the more restricted sense _chastity_here. But see 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_by the word of truth_ i.e. the Gospel of reconciliation, with which he was entrusted. Cf. Galatians 2:5; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18. _by the power of God_ This is an expression very common in the N.T.; and, as Acts 8:10 shews, was not confined to the... [ Continue Reading ]
_by honour and dishonour_ The preposition is here changed in the original, and _not_in our version. It means either _by means of_, or _by endurance of_, both of which senses are given by our English _through_. The sense is that not only did he persevere through evil report and good report, but that... [ Continue Reading ]
_as unknown, and yet well known_ The passage would be better without the -yet" interpolated by our translators (following Tyndale). St Paul was -unknown" to some, and -well known" to others. Cf. ch. 2Co 3:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 5:11. _as dying, and behold, we live_ See ch. 2 Corinthia... [ Continue Reading ]
_as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing_ Or _afflicted_, see ch. 2 Corinthians 2:2. What the afflictions of the Apostle were, is obvious enough. His fount of joy was independent of things external. See Romans 5:3; Romans 5:11; Philippians 2:16-17; Php 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16, and ch. 2 Corinthians 12:1... [ Continue Reading ]
7:1. Such a Ministry demands a suitable response on the part of those on whose behalf it is exercised 11. _our mouth is open unto you_ i.e. we have spoken with perfect frankness on all points, keeping nothing back, because we love you. Chrysostom. Cf. ch. 2 Corinthians 3:12. _our heart is enlarged_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels_ i.e. "our heart is large enough to receive you and give you full possession of our affections, but yours is too narrow to receive any one but yourselves;" for such would seem to be the meaning hinted at, though not fully express... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now for a recompence in the same_ "St Paul details the circumstances of his ministry, and he asks in return, not the affection of the Corinthians, nor their admiration, but this: that they -receive not the grace of God in vain," and again -be ye also enlarged." " Robertson. Tyndale, whom Cranmer fo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers_ Dean Stanley observes on the "remarkable dislocation of the argument here." But the connection of thought is not difficult to trace. The only reward (see last verse) St Paul sought from the Corinthians was conduct in accordance with the Gospel of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Belial_ This word, derived from two Hebrew ones signifying -of no profit," was used in the O.T. (e.g. Deuteronomy 13:13; 1 Samuel 2:12) in the phrase -child," -son" or -daughter of Belial," to signify a worthless person, and generally (as in Deuteronomy 15:9, in the Hebrew) as a substantive signify... [ Continue Reading ]
_what agreement hath the temple of God with idols_?] Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1Co 8:10; 1 Corinthians 10:14-21. St Paul does not lay stress on the abuse of liberty to which he devotes so large a portion of the first Epistle (see note on 2 Corinthians 6:14), but we may gather... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore come out from among them_ A combination of Isaiah 52:11 with Ezekiel 20:34. This passage must be read in conjunction with 1 Corinthians 5:10, and must be understood not of absolute separation, but of abstinence from any kind of _intimacy_. "Wherever union in the highest cannot be, whereve... [ Continue Reading ]
_saith the Lord Almighty_ Another combination of various passages. See 2 Samuel 7:14; Isaiah 43:6; Ezekiel 11:20; Ezekiel 14:11; Ezekiel 37:27.... [ Continue Reading ]