2 Corinthians 6

==2 Corinthians 6:1==
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
As has been stated in articles past, the Grace of God is the plan of salvation, the gospel. Here Paul is encouraging them to continue receiving that gospel, his inspired instruction to them to useful purpose rather than emptiness. The Corinthians with Paul are working hard to establish the church and Paul encourages them to not let all that effort be for nothing.
==2 Corinthians 6:2==
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.)
Paul is quoting from Isaiah 49:8 which prophesies about the coming of the salvation of not just the Jews but the Gentiles (the isles - Isa. 49:1, 6) through the Messiah. He is telling the Corinthians in effect "you are in the time of the fulfillment of that ancient prophecy; you are the fulfillment of that prophecy."
==2 Corinthians 6:3-5==
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Paul then provides a series of ways in which they would go about not receiving the gospel in vain. They were first to give no offence, to not cause anyone else to sin so that no one could accuse those of preaching the gospel of causing someone to sin by preaching the gospel. Even today people too often judge the faith system by those who are doing their best to live by it but sometimes fail.
They were to instead show themselves as ministers of God by their patience in enduring need and persecution. This goes back to the statements in 2 Corinthians 1:4-7 concerning the persecution of the Jews. The idea of "watchings" is the watchman seen so often in the Old Testament (Isaiah 21; Isaiah 52; Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:6-7; Hosea 9:8; Micah 7:4; Habakkuk 2:1; Matthew 24:42-43; Luke 12:37-39). They were looking for something that was going to take place within their lifetimes, the reason why they personally were to endure.
==2 Corinthians 6:6-7==
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 
This is how they were to endure.
==2 Corinthians 6:8-10==
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
These are the cases in which they were to endure, for good or ill, whatever happened to them or whatever circumstances they found themselves in.
This is not authorizing deceit, this is saying that they were accused of being deceivers, even though they were telling the truth.
Many were killed, but were alive in Christ and death had no power over them. The emphasis is placed on the spiritual state and reward in contrast to the physical state and need.
==2 Corinthians 6:11-12==
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
Paul's mouth is open - he is complementary to them because of their faithfulness, good work, ministry, and endurance.
Paul's heart is enlarged - a figure of speech referring to his love for them.
Paul's happiness over the church at Corinth is based in the fact that the church at Corinth doesn't seem to need him the way a young child needs a father anymore. A congregation that he had a hand in starting is now able to stand on its own, has matured, and has demonstrated that maturity. Just as a father is proud of the son who leaves home and is able to sustain himself in the world, the church at Corinth had become that strong.
==2 Corinthians 6:13-16==
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And 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.
Paul then tells the church at Corinth to essentially become like Paul. They had grown up, now they needed to help others do the same. He gives them some final advice as he essentially lets them go, the father seeing his kid off to be his own man.
Corinth was a Gentile city with the pressures of pagan gods. Many of these Christians had come out of paganism. In their jobs, in their daily lives, they still had to deal with people still wrapped up in that life, in that belief system. Paul is telling them that they should not try to be like the world around them. Remember, this is exactly the problem the Israelites had. They were always clamoring to be like those nations around them. They wanted a king, they wanted the commerce in the way the other nations obtained it, they worshiped the idols of the surrounding nations. Paul is teaching the Corinthians not to be like the Jews.
Paul then explicitly refers to the Christians as The Temple (singular). See my article on the body and the temple. Paul is saying the same thing here that Jesus said in John 14. In God's house, the temple, there was room for all. They are evidence of that being Gentiles and having a place in that temple, as that temple. John 14:23 speaks of God the Father and Son coming to dwell in them if they obeyed. As the New Testament Temple, a spiritual temple, a house built not by hands, they were to avoid any connection to worldly things.
==2 Corinthians 6:17-18==
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Paul is again quoting the Old Testament, a phrase used by Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zechariah in several places. Keep in mind, though, Paul is applying this to the Gentiles. This is again the great mystery of the Bible, how the promise to Abraham would be fulfilled, how the Gentiles would be saved. The Jews thought the blessing pertained to them only. They were the vehicle of the blessing, but the blessing was to all nations, not just them.
In Truth and Love.
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2 Corinthians 13Category:Apocalyptic