2 Corinthians 6:4

ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ συνιστάντες κ. τ. λ.: but in everything (the details being given in the following verses) commending ourselves (see note on 2 Corinthians 3:1) as God's ministers do. We now come to the description of the conditions under which and the means by which God's minister commends himself to those to whom his message is addressed. The description naturally divides itself into four sections: he commends himself (i.) in outward hardships, 2 Corinthians 6:4 b, 2 Corinthians 6:5, (ii.) in inward graces, 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 a, (iii.) by the armour of righteousness, whether he be well or evil spoken of, 2 Corinthians 6:7 b, 2 Corinthians 6:8 ab, (iv.) having indeed a character the reverse of that ascribed to him by his opponents, 2 Corinthians 6:8-10.

(i.) The general description here is ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ : in much patience (see note on 2 Corinthians 1:6 and cf. 2 Corinthians 12:12); and this is further amplified and explained in the three triplets which follow. (a) ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις : in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses (see reff. and cf. Acts 9:16), i.e., such trials as sickness (see 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 12:7), or loss of friends (2 Timothy 4:10), or perplexity (2 Corinthians 4:8, where see note), or any of the thousand chances (as we call them) of a troubled and anxious life. “The prevailing idea is that of pressure and confinement: each stage narrower than the one before, so that no room is left for movement or escape” (Stanley).