返回Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter Six
2 Cor. 6:1. And we, as fellow workers, beseech you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
We, he says, work together both with you and with God: with you, so that you may be saved, and with God, so that His will may be fulfilled, that is, concerning your salvation. "We beseech" on behalf of Christ, even until His second coming, and as long as we exist in this life, so that you may not receive the grace of God in vain. For what is the use of receiving freedom from sins by the grace of God, and then filling up with them again through one's own carelessness? Enmity appears again, and grace toward us becomes futile. Therefore, do not think that faith alone constitutes reconciliation; life is also needed.
2 Cor. 6:2. For He says: "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
What is this favorable time? The time of grace, in which there is forgiveness of sins and the imparting of justification. The favorable time is that in which God accepts us, hears us, and saves us. For in the time of judgment He will neither hear, nor help, nor save. Therefore, we must strive in this time of grace, because we will easily receive rewards.
2 Cor. 6:3. We give no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed.
We exhort, he said, and we assist. In what way? By a blameless life. And by the very course of his narrative he advises them to pay attention to him. For, he says, I so order my life that I give no one occasion—I do not say for accusation, but even for ordinary reproach, and still more for scandal—so that our ministry may not be blamed. Again, he did not say: so as not to fall under accusation, but so that my work and my ministry may not receive even an incidental reproach. Some, however, explain this as follows: so that the reproach may not pass over to the preaching, for he calls that his ministry. When I live badly, the preaching is subjected to contempt and reproach. He also subtly hints to them that when they live badly, the blasphemy is directed against Christ and against the faith.
2 Cor. 6:4. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God,
This is much higher: not only to make oneself pure from accusations and reproaches, but also to show such a life that from it one can see that he is a servant of God. He did not say: we show ourselves, but "we commend ourselves," that is, we show ourselves to be such in deed.
2 Cor. 6:4. in great patience,
He also speaks of the manner in which they become such, that is, through patience, and not simply through patience, but through "great patience." For it is not enough to endure one particular affliction or two, but one must be patient to the end.
2 Cor. 6:4. in afflictions, in necessities,
The highest degree of sorrow consists in when inescapable misfortunes oppress a person.
2 Cor. 6:4. in straitened circumstances,
This word signifies hunger or simply temptations.
2 Cor. 6:5. In stripes, in imprisonments,
Beatings and imprisonments: see how many evils! Each of them in itself is exceedingly grievous.
2 Cor. 6:5. in banishments,
That is, in persecutions, when someone has no place to stop, being driven from place to place.
2 Cor. 6:5. in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
Having spoken of external hardships, here he speaks of his own, which he voluntarily subjected himself to—labors, that is, the work of his own hands, by which he fed both himself and others, and at the same time kept vigil and fasted.
2 Cor. 6:6. In purity.
Thus he calls temperance, or purity in all things, and freedom from covetousness, and preaching without charge.
2 Cor. 6:6. in prudence,
That is, in the wisdom of God, which is truly knowledge, only not outward, as with the false apostles.
2 Cor. 6:6. in long-suffering, in kindness,
This is the mark of an indomitable soul, when someone, being struck and wounded from all sides, not only endures patiently, but also does good.
2 Cor. 6:6. in the Holy Spirit,
In showing how he did all this, namely by the Holy Spirit. When he had shown his labors, then he set forth the help of the Holy Spirit. Here spiritual gifts are also understood, for by them we prove that we are servants of God, because we perform miracles. Otherwise: we gave no offense "in the Holy Spirit," that is, in the gifts of the Spirit. For many of those who boasted of the gift of tongues they had received did not use it as they ought. But Paul was not like that.
2 Cor. 6:6. in unfeigned love,
Here is the source of all good things, here is the reason why the Spirit remained in him.
2 Cor. 6:7. In the word of truth,
That is, not perverting the word of God.
2 Cor. 6:7. in the power of God,
Nothing, he says, is mine, but all this was accomplished in the power of God, or in signs and wonders and in punishing and beneficent power.
2 Cor. 6:7. with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left,
The weapons of righteousness on the left hand signify all that is grievous, while those on the right signify all that protects and places us in safety. On the left hand are sorrowful things, in the opinion of many, for the Lord also commanded to pray not to fall into temptation, and on the right are joyful things. Thus Paul showed himself blameless in both, neither losing heart in sorrows nor exalting himself in joys, but making all of these weapons of righteousness.
2 Cor. 6:8. In honor and dishonor,
He explained to us that the weapons in the right and left hand signify glory and dishonor. How then does glory serve as a weapon of righteousness? In that the glory of teachers attracts many to piety. What then? Is this a virtue of Paul? Of course, because he, being in glory, did not grow proud, while dishonor, producing patience, made him skilled and contributed to the success of his preaching.
2 Cor. 6:8. in reproaches and praises,
And the endurance of reproach is a great feat. For it strongly disturbs the soul. Therefore the Lord also calls blessed those who endure reviling. In tortures the body shares the sufferings together with the soul, but in reproach the entire weight falls upon the soul. Therefore it was also heavier for Job than all the other blows.
2 Cor. 6:8. We are regarded as deceivers, yet we are true,
"Regarded as deceivers" because of the reproaches, "yet true," which is proven by the commendations.
2 Cor. 6:9. We are unknown, yet we are recognized.
For some they were respected and well-known, while for others they were not even worthy of being known. This corresponds to what was said: "in honor and dishonor."
2 Cor. 6:9. They regard us as dead, but behold, we are alive,
That is, as those condemned and sentenced to death, and, in the opinion of those who plot against us, already dead; but by the power of God we are alive.
2 Cor. 6:9. We are chastened, yet not killed,
God permits this, he says, in order to bring us to our senses; for even before the future rewards, in the present life no small benefit comes from punishment. This is taken from David, who says: "The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death" (Ps. 118:18).
2 Cor. 6:10. They grieve us, yet we are always rejoicing,
Though in outward appearance, he says, we seem to be grieving, we enjoy the most perfect joy; for it is not the case that we sometimes rejoice and sometimes do not, but we always rejoice.
2 Cor. 6:10. We are poor, yet we enrich many,
The Apostle enriched many with both spiritual and material wealth. For, having the homes of all open to him, he was the wealthiest and was able to bestow upon and feed others, such as, for example, the saints in Jerusalem. He shows the same thing further on as well.
2 Cor. 6:10. We have nothing, yet possess all things.
Not attached to anything in this present life, he has everything. "If it had been possible," he says, "you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me" (Gal. 4:15). How then could such people have begrudged him their possessions? He enumerated all of this with the purpose that they would not be troubled by anything that seems sorrowful.
2 Cor. 6:11. Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
Having enumerated his labors and through the order of his narrative shown the Corinthians how they ought to imitate him, he wishes, finally, to reproach them as not loving him enough. But before this he shows them his own love, and says: I always desire to speak and converse with you, and moreover freely and boldly; for this is what the words "our mouth is open" mean. He speaks thus because he wants to give them relief, showing that boldness in speech is a sign of the greatest love. And I express love not only with my lips, but also with my heart, having it enlarged for you. For the flame of love both opened my mouth and enlarged my heart, and made it spacious, so as to give room to all of you. Therefore he also adds the following.
2 Cor. 6:12. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own hearts.
You, he says, are not cramped in my heart, a heart spacious enough no matter how many of you there are. But in your hearts there is great narrowness, and you cannot spaciously accommodate me, though I am but one. That is, I love you to the highest degree, but you, although you love me and have me in your hearts, do so in a cramped way, not spaciously.
2 Cor. 6:13. As a recompense in kind – I speak as to children – be ye also enlarged.
Show the same mutuality and equality of friendship on your part as well, and open your hearts just as I have opened mine. He shows that this is how it ought to be, for he says: "I speak as to children." I ask nothing great when, being a father, I desire to be loved by my children, for this is the duty of children.
2 Cor. 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked (έτεροζυγοΰντες) with unbelievers.
Lest it should seem that he says this for his own benefit, he shows that he needs their love for their benefit, speaking as if to say: to love me means that you should not mingle with unbelievers and not turn aside to their part. He did not say: do not mingle, but: "do not be unequally yoked," that is, do not offend justice by inclining and joining yourselves to those to whom you ought not. For the word ἑτεροζυγεῖν is used in the case when one speaks of unequal scales, when one pan of the balance outweighs the other.
2 Cor. 6:14. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?
Here he draws a distinction not between himself and the unbelievers, but between the virtue and nobility of the Corinthians and the baseness of the unbelievers. Just as a father, seeing his son in association with depraved people, says to him: what fellowship is there between your nobility and their vileness; so too the apostle says: you are righteousness itself, and they are lawlessness: so what do you have in common with them?
2 Cor. 6:14. What does light have in common with darkness?
2 Cor. 6:15. What accord has Christ with Beliar?
Do not be satisfied with what has been said, but desiring by every means to urge them to separate from the unbelievers, he did not say: what fellowship do those who are in the light have with those who abide in darkness, or: the followers of Christ and the children of Belial, but in place of the persons he put the very things themselves – light and darkness; which expresses much more; likewise Christ and Belial, which means apostate. Through this he made his speech more threatening.
2 Cor. 6:15. Or what partnership does a believer have with an unbeliever?
Here he mentioned the persons, so that it would not seem that he only condemns evil or praises virtue.
2 Cor. 6:16. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God,
The unfaithful are temples of idols, or even the very idols themselves, while you are the temple of God—not of the one about whom they tell fables, but of the living God. So what "compatibility," that is, likeness, similarity is there between you and them?
2 Cor. 6:16. As God said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Lest it should seem that he flatters, he confirms by Scripture that they are the temple of God. The indwelling of God in us is conditioned by purity of life, and His walking in us is acquired by diligence. For God dwells in a person when he is pure, and when He moves him to some other work, it is said that He walks in him; this means: when God becomes his God, he enters into the rank of the patriarchs.
2 Cor. 6:17. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you,
He did not say: do not do foolish things, but: do not even touch them. Uncleanness is of two kinds: bodily and spiritual. To the spiritual belong impure thoughts, impure gazes, malice, deceit, and the like; while to bodily uncleanness belong: fornication, adultery, and every indulgence of the flesh. So then, he wants us to be clean from both the one and the other uncleanness. "Come out from the midst" of the unbelievers "and be separate," that is, live apart and be clean, and then I will receive you. For when you depart from vices, then you will be united with God.
2 Cor. 6:18. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Do you see how the prophet long ago foretold the present regeneration and adoption that is accomplished in us through baptism?
2 Cor. 6:1. And we, as fellow workers, beseech you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
We, he says, work together both with you and with God: with you, so that you may be saved, and with God, so that His will may be fulfilled, that is, concerning your salvation. "We beseech" on behalf of Christ, even until His second coming, and as long as we exist in this life, so that you may not receive the grace of God in vain. For what is the use of receiving freedom from sins by the grace of God, and then filling up with them again through one's own carelessness? Enmity appears again, and grace toward us becomes futile. Therefore, do not think that faith alone constitutes reconciliation; life is also needed.
2 Cor. 6:2. For He says: "In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
What is this favorable time? The time of grace, in which there is forgiveness of sins and the imparting of justification. The favorable time is that in which God accepts us, hears us, and saves us. For in the time of judgment He will neither hear, nor help, nor save. Therefore, we must strive in this time of grace, because we will easily receive rewards.
2 Cor. 6:3. We give no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed.
We exhort, he said, and we assist. In what way? By a blameless life. And by the very course of his narrative he advises them to pay attention to him. For, he says, I so order my life that I give no one occasion—I do not say for accusation, but even for ordinary reproach, and still more for scandal—so that our ministry may not be blamed. Again, he did not say: so as not to fall under accusation, but so that my work and my ministry may not receive even an incidental reproach. Some, however, explain this as follows: so that the reproach may not pass over to the preaching, for he calls that his ministry. When I live badly, the preaching is subjected to contempt and reproach. He also subtly hints to them that when they live badly, the blasphemy is directed against Christ and against the faith.
2 Cor. 6:4. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God,
This is much higher: not only to make oneself pure from accusations and reproaches, but also to show such a life that from it one can see that he is a servant of God. He did not say: we show ourselves, but "we commend ourselves," that is, we show ourselves to be such in deed.
2 Cor. 6:4. in great patience,
He also speaks of the manner in which they become such, that is, through patience, and not simply through patience, but through "great patience." For it is not enough to endure one particular affliction or two, but one must be patient to the end.
2 Cor. 6:4. in afflictions, in necessities,
The highest degree of sorrow consists in when inescapable misfortunes oppress a person.
2 Cor. 6:4. in straitened circumstances,
This word signifies hunger or simply temptations.
2 Cor. 6:5. In stripes, in imprisonments,
Beatings and imprisonments: see how many evils! Each of them in itself is exceedingly grievous.
2 Cor. 6:5. in banishments,
That is, in persecutions, when someone has no place to stop, being driven from place to place.
2 Cor. 6:5. in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
Having spoken of external hardships, here he speaks of his own, which he voluntarily subjected himself to—labors, that is, the work of his own hands, by which he fed both himself and others, and at the same time kept vigil and fasted.
2 Cor. 6:6. In purity.
Thus he calls temperance, or purity in all things, and freedom from covetousness, and preaching without charge.
2 Cor. 6:6. in prudence,
That is, in the wisdom of God, which is truly knowledge, only not outward, as with the false apostles.
2 Cor. 6:6. in long-suffering, in kindness,
This is the mark of an indomitable soul, when someone, being struck and wounded from all sides, not only endures patiently, but also does good.
2 Cor. 6:6. in the Holy Spirit,
In showing how he did all this, namely by the Holy Spirit. When he had shown his labors, then he set forth the help of the Holy Spirit. Here spiritual gifts are also understood, for by them we prove that we are servants of God, because we perform miracles. Otherwise: we gave no offense "in the Holy Spirit," that is, in the gifts of the Spirit. For many of those who boasted of the gift of tongues they had received did not use it as they ought. But Paul was not like that.
2 Cor. 6:6. in unfeigned love,
Here is the source of all good things, here is the reason why the Spirit remained in him.
2 Cor. 6:7. In the word of truth,
That is, not perverting the word of God.
2 Cor. 6:7. in the power of God,
Nothing, he says, is mine, but all this was accomplished in the power of God, or in signs and wonders and in punishing and beneficent power.
2 Cor. 6:7. with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left,
The weapons of righteousness on the left hand signify all that is grievous, while those on the right signify all that protects and places us in safety. On the left hand are sorrowful things, in the opinion of many, for the Lord also commanded to pray not to fall into temptation, and on the right are joyful things. Thus Paul showed himself blameless in both, neither losing heart in sorrows nor exalting himself in joys, but making all of these weapons of righteousness.
2 Cor. 6:8. In honor and dishonor,
He explained to us that the weapons in the right and left hand signify glory and dishonor. How then does glory serve as a weapon of righteousness? In that the glory of teachers attracts many to piety. What then? Is this a virtue of Paul? Of course, because he, being in glory, did not grow proud, while dishonor, producing patience, made him skilled and contributed to the success of his preaching.
2 Cor. 6:8. in reproaches and praises,
And the endurance of reproach is a great feat. For it strongly disturbs the soul. Therefore the Lord also calls blessed those who endure reviling. In tortures the body shares the sufferings together with the soul, but in reproach the entire weight falls upon the soul. Therefore it was also heavier for Job than all the other blows.
2 Cor. 6:8. We are regarded as deceivers, yet we are true,
"Regarded as deceivers" because of the reproaches, "yet true," which is proven by the commendations.
2 Cor. 6:9. We are unknown, yet we are recognized.
For some they were respected and well-known, while for others they were not even worthy of being known. This corresponds to what was said: "in honor and dishonor."
2 Cor. 6:9. They regard us as dead, but behold, we are alive,
That is, as those condemned and sentenced to death, and, in the opinion of those who plot against us, already dead; but by the power of God we are alive.
2 Cor. 6:9. We are chastened, yet not killed,
God permits this, he says, in order to bring us to our senses; for even before the future rewards, in the present life no small benefit comes from punishment. This is taken from David, who says: "The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death" (Ps. 118:18).
2 Cor. 6:10. They grieve us, yet we are always rejoicing,
Though in outward appearance, he says, we seem to be grieving, we enjoy the most perfect joy; for it is not the case that we sometimes rejoice and sometimes do not, but we always rejoice.
2 Cor. 6:10. We are poor, yet we enrich many,
The Apostle enriched many with both spiritual and material wealth. For, having the homes of all open to him, he was the wealthiest and was able to bestow upon and feed others, such as, for example, the saints in Jerusalem. He shows the same thing further on as well.
2 Cor. 6:10. We have nothing, yet possess all things.
Not attached to anything in this present life, he has everything. "If it had been possible," he says, "you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me" (Gal. 4:15). How then could such people have begrudged him their possessions? He enumerated all of this with the purpose that they would not be troubled by anything that seems sorrowful.
2 Cor. 6:11. Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
Having enumerated his labors and through the order of his narrative shown the Corinthians how they ought to imitate him, he wishes, finally, to reproach them as not loving him enough. But before this he shows them his own love, and says: I always desire to speak and converse with you, and moreover freely and boldly; for this is what the words "our mouth is open" mean. He speaks thus because he wants to give them relief, showing that boldness in speech is a sign of the greatest love. And I express love not only with my lips, but also with my heart, having it enlarged for you. For the flame of love both opened my mouth and enlarged my heart, and made it spacious, so as to give room to all of you. Therefore he also adds the following.
2 Cor. 6:12. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own hearts.
You, he says, are not cramped in my heart, a heart spacious enough no matter how many of you there are. But in your hearts there is great narrowness, and you cannot spaciously accommodate me, though I am but one. That is, I love you to the highest degree, but you, although you love me and have me in your hearts, do so in a cramped way, not spaciously.
2 Cor. 6:13. As a recompense in kind – I speak as to children – be ye also enlarged.
Show the same mutuality and equality of friendship on your part as well, and open your hearts just as I have opened mine. He shows that this is how it ought to be, for he says: "I speak as to children." I ask nothing great when, being a father, I desire to be loved by my children, for this is the duty of children.
2 Cor. 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked (έτεροζυγοΰντες) with unbelievers.
Lest it should seem that he says this for his own benefit, he shows that he needs their love for their benefit, speaking as if to say: to love me means that you should not mingle with unbelievers and not turn aside to their part. He did not say: do not mingle, but: "do not be unequally yoked," that is, do not offend justice by inclining and joining yourselves to those to whom you ought not. For the word ἑτεροζυγεῖν is used in the case when one speaks of unequal scales, when one pan of the balance outweighs the other.
2 Cor. 6:14. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?
Here he draws a distinction not between himself and the unbelievers, but between the virtue and nobility of the Corinthians and the baseness of the unbelievers. Just as a father, seeing his son in association with depraved people, says to him: what fellowship is there between your nobility and their vileness; so too the apostle says: you are righteousness itself, and they are lawlessness: so what do you have in common with them?
2 Cor. 6:14. What does light have in common with darkness?
2 Cor. 6:15. What accord has Christ with Beliar?
Do not be satisfied with what has been said, but desiring by every means to urge them to separate from the unbelievers, he did not say: what fellowship do those who are in the light have with those who abide in darkness, or: the followers of Christ and the children of Belial, but in place of the persons he put the very things themselves – light and darkness; which expresses much more; likewise Christ and Belial, which means apostate. Through this he made his speech more threatening.
2 Cor. 6:15. Or what partnership does a believer have with an unbeliever?
Here he mentioned the persons, so that it would not seem that he only condemns evil or praises virtue.
2 Cor. 6:16. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God,
The unfaithful are temples of idols, or even the very idols themselves, while you are the temple of God—not of the one about whom they tell fables, but of the living God. So what "compatibility," that is, likeness, similarity is there between you and them?
2 Cor. 6:16. As God said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
Lest it should seem that he flatters, he confirms by Scripture that they are the temple of God. The indwelling of God in us is conditioned by purity of life, and His walking in us is acquired by diligence. For God dwells in a person when he is pure, and when He moves him to some other work, it is said that He walks in him; this means: when God becomes his God, he enters into the rank of the patriarchs.
2 Cor. 6:17. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you,
He did not say: do not do foolish things, but: do not even touch them. Uncleanness is of two kinds: bodily and spiritual. To the spiritual belong impure thoughts, impure gazes, malice, deceit, and the like; while to bodily uncleanness belong: fornication, adultery, and every indulgence of the flesh. So then, he wants us to be clean from both the one and the other uncleanness. "Come out from the midst" of the unbelievers "and be separate," that is, live apart and be clean, and then I will receive you. For when you depart from vices, then you will be united with God.
2 Cor. 6:18. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Do you see how the prophet long ago foretold the present regeneration and adoption that is accomplished in us through baptism?