2 Corinthians 6
CHAPTER 6
And working together with him we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He said: In a time of acceptance I hearkened to you, and in a day of salvation did I succour you. Behold, now is the time of acceptance; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s ministry commended by God
3 We aim to give no reason for stumbling in anything, that our ministry is not blamed. 4 But in everything, commending ourselves as servants of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. 6 In pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by glory 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 always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
Do not be unequally yoked
14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has 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. 17 Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; and I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says the Lord Almighty.
Commentary
6:2 The emphasis on the word “now” reflects the crucial importance of life and living today. We are living in moments of amazing, eternal opportunity. At the day of judgment it will be too late.
6:8 By evil report- The fact we will be slandered is a proof we are God’s servants (v. 4).
6:11 The Corinthians were aggressive to Paul, and yet he opened his heart to them- there is more autobiographical detail about Paul in his letters to them than in any other of his letters.
6:14 Unequally yoked- This principle affects who we chose to marry and have deep relationships with, knowing that bad company corrupts good spiritual habits (1 Cor. 15:33).
6:17 We are to come out from this world, and yet be a light to the world. Our separation from them is therefore from their sinful behaviour. The command to separate is positive- we are to be separated from the world so that we can be separated unto God Himself; this is the meaning of the Hebrew idea of ‘holiness’.
