2 Corinthians
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2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6
1And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain
1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
Commentary · verse 1
2(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Commentary · verses 2-3
Paul referenced Isaiah 49:8 to support the gratitude in a repentant believer's heart for the Salvation provided by God through Jesus Christ. Paul stated that we should not do anything to hinder this ministry of reconciliation we do with the Holy Spirit. Next, Paul gave a description of the attributes of this ministry of reconciliation...
4but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Commentary · verses 4-10
This was an exhaustive list. Why don't believers memorize this list and quote it to each other? It is the work we ought to be doing with the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers as well as believers know the list of the effects of love from the thirteenth chapter of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. However, this list had thirty-eight attributes, with at least a dozen of them being what most people would call "negative"...and the overwhelming majority of believers would not be able to tell you where this list was located in the Bible. In fact, I believe most believers would tell you this list was not in the Bible.
11Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.
11O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Paul pleaded with the Corinthians to be straightened by the Spirit.
13Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.
14Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?
13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Commentary · verses 13-14
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, do not let unbelievers hinder your progress/growth. This is an oft-quoted verse. However, this verse takes on a greater light when interpreted in the context of the list of thirty-eight attributes of which our ministry with the Holy Spirit consists. How would an unbeliever be able to bear these attributes? Paul stated the only reason believers ought to be able to do this was because we were grateful for what Jesus did for us and we looked forward to an eternity in paradise.
Doctrines on this passage
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?
16And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Commentary · verses 15-16
Paul referenced Leviticus 26:12. Verses 15-16 were examples of unequal yokes. Notice, the unequal yokes were contradictory. Paul showed that being unequally yoked with unbelievers was living contradictory. Do you interact with unbelievers? If so, are you becoming more like them or are they becoming more like you? Are you growing in exhibiting the characteristics from the list of the thirty-eight attributes of the ministry of reconciliation that we ought to be working in with the Holy Spirit?
17Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Commentary · verse 17
Paul referenced Isaiah 52:11.
18And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Commentary · verse 18
Paul referenced 2 Samuel 7:14. Paul did not believe a believer could work in the ministry of reconciliation and be in fellowship with unbelievers.
Theme of Chapter 6: Paul encouraged us not to receive the grace of God in vain. Paul presented a list of thirty-eight attributes believers ought to exhibit while they work in the ministry of reconciliation with the Holy Spirit. Paul did not believe we could do this ministry of reconciliation while being in fellowship with unbelievers.
Doctrines on this passage
Do not receive the grace of God in vain (unprofitable). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. We ought to work with the Holy Spirit in our ministry of reconciliation, otherwise we are proud and have received the grace of God with no profitable effect.