INTRODUCTION TO 2 CORINTHIANS 6 The apostle having given a commendation of the Gospel in the latter part of the preceding chapter, does in this address the ministers of it that were at Corinth, under the character of fellow labourers, and by way of entreaty, that they would be careful to make it ap... [ Continue Reading ]
WE THEN, AS WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM,.... The ministers of the Gospel are workers or labourers; their ministry is a work, and a very laborious one, which none have strength equal to, and are sufficient for; of themselves: it is a work that requires faithfulness and diligence, is honourable; and tho... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE SAITH, I HAVE HEARD THEE IN A TIME ACCEPTED,.... These words are a citation from Isaiah 49:8 and are spoken by the Father to Christ, declaring he had heard him, as he always did. He heard him when he put up that prayer to him, recorded John 17:1 for the glorification of himself, by strengthen... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVING NO OFFENCE IN ANYTHING,.... These words are in connection with 2 Corinthians 6:1 and to be considered either as a continuation of the exhortation to others, that they would take care to give no offence to any; or rather as an account the apostle gives of himself, and other ministers, by way o... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IN ALL THINGS APPROVING OURSELVES,.... It is not sufficient for a minister of the Gospel to avoid everything that might bring any blot or scandal on his ministry; but he should in all things, and by all ways and means, proper, lawful, and laudable, approve, prove, and show himself to be a true a... [ Continue Reading ]
IN STRIPES,.... As the Apostle Paul particularly was, who was thrice beaten with rods, and five times scourged by the Jews with the scourge of forty stripes save one. IN IMPRISONMENTS; under which are included bonds, in which they often were for the Gospel of Christ: IN TUMULTS; and uproars of the... [ Continue Reading ]
BY PURENESS,.... The apostle having observed how he, and other ministers of God, showed themselves to be such by patiently bearing everything that was afflictive and distressing to the outward man, proceeds to show how they approved themselves in other respects; and which more chiefly regard the inw... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WORD OF TRUTH,.... By preaching the Gospel, truly, sincerely, without any adulteration of it, which comes from the God of truth, has for its subject matter Christ, who is the truth, and into which ministers are guided by the Spirit of truth, and every doctrine of which is truth: BY THE POWER... [ Continue Reading ]
BY HONOUR AND DISHONOUR,.... Some persons think and speak honourably of us, and behave in a reverent manner towards us; they wish us well, bid us God speed, receive us into their houses, and treat us with respect: others think meanly of us, speak of us with the utmost contempt, and use us as if we w... [ Continue Reading ]
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 li... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SORROWFUL, YET ALWAYS REJOICING,.... As to their outward appearance they are SORROWFUL, and oftentimes really so on account of sin, their own and others, by reason of afflictions, temporal and spiritual; and as to the state and condition of the church of Christ, and the interest of religion: and... [ Continue Reading ]
O YE CORINTHIANS,.... The apostle having exhorted the ministers of the church at Corinth to take care of their ministry, that they fulfil it, and that it might appear that the Gospel, and gifts fitting them to preach it, were not received in vain by them; all which he strengthens and encourages by h... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US,.... The meaning of which is, either you are not brought into straits and difficulties by us; we do not afflict and distress you, or fill you with anguish and trouble; BUT YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS; you are distressed by some among yourselves, who ought not to... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW FOR A RECOMPENCE IN THE SAME,.... That your love to me may answer mine to you; that as you have my heart, I may have yours, and the same room in your heart, as you have in mine. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "having the same recompence"; and the Arabic version renders it, "grant to me the sam... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS,.... This seems to be an allusion to the law in Deuteronomy 22:10 and to be a mystical explanation of it; and is to be understood not as forbidding civil society and converse with unbelievers; for this is impracticable, then must believers needs go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHAT CONCORD HATH CHRIST WITH BELIAL?.... The word "Belial" is an Hebrew word, and is only used in this place in the New Testament, but often in the Old; this word is differently read and pronounced, some copies read it "Beliar", and accordingly in the Ethiopic version it is "Belhor", and by Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHAT AGREEMENT HATH THE TEMPLE OF GOD WITH IDOLS?.... That is, what association, confederation, or covenant agreement can the saints, who are the temple of God, have with idols, or their worshippers? no more than the ark of the Lord had with Dagon, or Dagon with the ark; which when brought into... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM,.... Since they were the temple of the living God, built up an habitation for the Most High; since he resided among them, took his walks in the midst of them, was their God, and they were his people. These words are taken out of Isaiah 52:11 where the several phras... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU,.... The same is promised to Solomon, 2 Samuel 7:14 and said of Israel, Jeremiah 31:9 which is thought to be referred unto. This is not to be understood of the first commencement of this relation, as though God now began to be their Father; nor indeed of the first manif... [ Continue Reading ]