A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 1 of 8 I. Outline. 1. Marks of the Ministry (2 Cor 6.1-10). 2. Be Holy (2 Cor 6.11 7.1). --Headings from NKJV Bible A Study of 2 Corinthians 6 II. III. IV. Summary. He enumerated once more his labors and sufferings for the cause of Christ, including the attacks of dishonor, evil report, and deception by his opponents. He declared his love for them and entreated that they return it. No doubt with the Judaizers in mind, he encouraged them to have no fellowship with iniquity, darkness, Belial, unbelievers, or idols, but rather to come out from among them and be separate. Note that these passages have primary application to false teachers in the church. The same admonitions apply today. Much unnecessary damage has been done to the church by the continued fellowship of false teachers. It is past time to be separate [Darrell Conley, 2 Corinthians A Summary, in Studies in 2 Corinthians, Editor: Dub McClish, pp., 20-21]. Chronology. BIBLE PERIOD: The Period of the Church. If you are not familiar with the 15 Bible Periods, please click here: http://bit.ly/rvd8gw Words/Phrases to Study 2 Corinthians 6.1... BESEECH YOU ALSO THAT YE RECEIVE NOT THE GRACE OF GOD IN VAIN In beseeching (encouraging, exhorting) them not to receive the grace of God in vain, he was appealing to them not to allow themselves to be led astray by the false teachers in Corinth. The grace here refers to that which is comprehended in the ministry of reconciliation in the previous chapter (2 Cor 5.18). It is the forgiveness in Christ Jesus. The word vain means that which results in nothing, empty, without results. In short, they were warned not to be guilty of having received the salvation which was revealed in the faith (the one faith of Eph 4.5; Jude 3) of Christ and then, by subsequent actions, to lose the promise of eternal salvation [Tom Bright, Paul s Blameless Life and a Plea for Distinctiveness, in Studies in 2 Corinthians, Edited by Dub McClish, p. 88]. 2 Corinthians 6.2... NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION Isaiah 49.8 is now quoted by the apostle to prove God's continual interest in man's salvation. God is always ready to receive sinful man, but man is limited to the present since it will never happen again and the future is not assured [Gary C. Hampton, The God of All Comfort, 2012, an e-sword Module]. 2 Corinthians 6.4... APPROVING OURSELVES AS THE MINISTERS OF GOD Paul s letter of commendation to the Corinthians is his life. This is the letter that should be presented to the people by all ministers of the word of truth. That is the one that will be read in preference to any letter that may be given by men. His life is an open book to the church and to the world. It is vain for him to bid men do as he says, not as he does. What he is thunders so loud in men s ears that they cannot hear what he says. He must meet life as it is, and Paul is not afraid [J.W. Shepherd, Romans through Philemon, 2012, an e-sword Module].
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 2 of 8 2 Corinthians 6.6... BY PURENESS, BY KNOWLEDGE, BY LONGSUFFERING, BY KINDNESS, BY THE HOLY GHOST, BY LOVE UNFEIGNED This is how we have shown ourselves to be God s servants: by our purity of life and motives, by our knowledge of the Truth, by our patience as we endure suffering, by our kindness toward all, by the Holy Spirit (compare 1Th_1:5), by our true love which is unhypocritical, by the fact that we preach the truth, and by the power of God as we correctly use the gifts from the Spirit [R.D. Ice, Explanatory Notes, Bible Study Textbook Series, College Press, an e-sword Module]. 2 Corinthians 6.7... BY THE ARMOUR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT...it is righteousness s weapons, that is, the weapons which the system of righteousness (i.e., the Gospel) provides. These weapons are in (according to the Greek text) the right and left hand. Although it is not specifically stated what weapons are here considered, it certainly would not be too far afield for us to think of the sword of the Spirit in one hand and the shield of faith in the other (Ephesians 6.11-17) [Tom Bright, p. 92]. 2 Corinthians 6.8... AS DECEIVERS, AND YET TRUE That is, we are regarded and treated as if we were deceivers, and as if we were practicing an imposition on mankind, and as if we would advance our cause by any trick or fraud that would be possible. We are regarded and treated as deceivers. Perhaps this refers to some charges which had been brought against them by the opposing faction at Corinth (Locke), or perhaps to the opinion which the Jewish priests and pagan philosophers entertained of them. The idea is, that though they were extensively regarded and treated as impostors, yet they endeavored to live as became the ministers of God. They bore the imputation with patience, and they applied themselves diligently to the work of saving souls. Paul seldom turned aside to vindicate himself from such charges, but pursued his master s work, and evidently felt that if he had a reputation that was worth anything, or deserved any reputation, God would take care of it; compare Psalms 37:1-4 [Albert Barnes, Barnes Notes on the New Testament, an e-sword Module]. 2 Corinthians 6.11... O YE CORINTHIANS, OUR MOUTH IS OPEN UNTO YOU, OUR HEART IS ENLARGED Filled to overflowing with the thought of the riches of his possession, he bursts forth into an expression of love for the Corinthians. He was ready to teach them; his affections for them grew mightily, [David Lipscomb and J.W. Shepherd, Romans through Philemon, 2012, an e- Sword Module]. 2 Corinthians 6.12... YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US, That is, you do not possess a narrow or contracted place in our affections. We love you fully, ardently, and are ready to do all that can be done for your welfare. There is no lack of room in our affections toward you. It is not narrow, confined, pent up. It is ample and free.... BUT YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS-- --The idea here is, that they were straitened, or were confined in their affections for him. It is the language of reproof, meaning that he had not received from them the demonstrations of attachment which he had a right to expect, and which was a fair and proportionate return for the love bestowed on them. Probably he refers to the fact that they had formed parties; had admitted false teachers; and had not received his instructions as implicitly and as kindly as they ought to have done [Barnes]. 2 Corinthians 6.14-18... BE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS As long as a Christian can live with a non-christian spouse and not be forced by the relationship itself to engage in that which is not authorize by the Scriptures, there is no unequal yoking involved. When the
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 3 of 8 Christian, by being married to the non-christian, is put into a situation that would cause the Christian to violate what God has authorized him or her to do, the Christian must abide by 2 Corinthians 6.17. There can be no [acceptable, DRL] interpretation of 2 Corinthians 6.14-18 that would contradict 1 Corinthians 7.12-14. 1 Corinthians 7.12-14 clearly reveals that there were Christians married to non-christians and such marriages were obviously authorized by God. If a Christian s marriage to a non-christian constitutes sin (that which is not authorized by the Scriptures, Col 3.17; 1 Jn 3.4), then all such marriages of Christians to non-christians must be dissolved. Such would not be marriages in God s sight in the first place. Such marriages would be no more than adulterous unions. Any Christian determined to persist in such a union would have to be disfellowshiped. However, as already stated, such a position contradicts the clear teaching of 1 Corinthians 7.12-14: God sanctions the marriage of Christians to non-christians. Please understand that the foregoing explanation has not dealt with what is good, better, or best in marriage, business, or social relationships. I have tried to deal strictly with what the passage authorizes and does not authorize and thereby answer the question under consideration. The best possible situation in marriage is for a faithful child of god to marry another faithful child of God and both remain faithful to God all their lives.... [David Brown, Difficult Passages, No. 2, in Studies in 2 Corinthians, Edited by Dub McClish, p 230]. V. Lessons & Applications. 2 Corinthians 6.2... BEHOLD, NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION Many people who planned to obey the Gospel some day died before doing it. That is why we have often heard it said, Procrastination is the thief of souls. How sad to be a soul in Hades and destined for eternal Gehenna who intended to avoid such a damnable destiny but just never obeyed. Paul s urgent exhortation in 2 Corinthians 6.2 is a sure and solemn warning against such. He has his eye focused on Isaiah 49.8. God wants people to be prompt in Gospel obedience. That is why He had Paul to label today as the day of salvation. Tomorrow may not come and even if it does, not any of us has any assurance we will be here. Even if we are here, we may be less prone to obey Christ then than now. Every day we put it off means the Devil comes in first and Christ comes in second. When He is second, no souls are saved. There is a golden thread that runs from Genesis to Revelation. It says, Now is the time to do the Lord s will. Promptness is a part of true piety. Putting off obedience means we are playing a spiritual game of Russian Roulette [Robert R. Taylor, Jr., Companion, 1991-1992, p.]. 2 Corinthians 6.12 YE ARE NOT STRAITENED IN US, BUT YE ARE STRAITENED IN YOUR OWN BOWELS There is no tightening, pressure, or restraint in my heart for you. You do not possess a narrow or contracted place in our affections. He wishes them to know that the sins he condemned in his first letter had not caused him to love them any less; those sins had made no change in him except to make him more anxious for their welfare. Paul charges that there had been a tightening or restraint in their love for him. The condition which called forth that first letter was sufficient proof of that.... Lessons to Learn: (1) Those who fail to return the love and kindness of their benefactors, especially those who bring them eternal blessings, are guilty of the basest sort of ingratitude. (2) It is a source of comfort and rejoicing when people measure up to one s expectations in time of trial. Such victories not only strengthen those who undergo them, but they increase the faith and confidence which people have placed in them. (3) We should remember that we are no match for Satan and unable to meet him singlehanded in combat. We
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 4 of 8 must flee to our place of refuge in the Lord. And we must never cease to be thankful that the Lord provides a way of escape from every temptation (1 Cor 10.13) [Roy H. Lanier, Sr., Teacher s Annual Lesson Commentary, 1956, p. 70]. 2 Corinthians 6.14... BE YE NOT UNEQUALLY YOKED TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS The picture behind the word is of a team of oxen yoked together to pull the plow or the wagon. The idea indicated by being mismated is not a mere association, but the union of two lives without a common purpose. Mismated means to live in the church with someone who does not share your ideas and your own presuppositions. This section often has been quoted to indicate that Paul is discussing the marriage relationship but the context does not allow this interpretation. No mention is made here of the marriage relationship. While it may have some application, the yoke here is to be identified with any type of business partnership or association with which the Christian might find himself in the pagan world, day by day [Edward P. Myers, Companion, 1988, p. 213]. For this passage to be forbidding marriage of a Christian to a non-christian, there would be a contradiction with 1 Corinthians 7.12-14, DRL. 2 Corinthians 6.17... COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE In this series of questions he intended to convey the idea there could be no fellowship and no communion between the world and the church. Then, by a series of short, terse questions he shows the utter folly, the inconsistency, and incongruity of every form of alliance which entangles the children of God with the children of the devil. The world has not so improved, and Satan has not so repented, as to in any way nullify, or even weaken, the weight and applicability of this apostolic warning. [Roy H. Lanier, Sr., Teacher s Annual Lesson Commentary, 1953, p. 84]. VI. Questions. True or False 01. There are conditions to be met before the Lord will receive people. 02. God s grace can be received in vain. 03. Paul loved these Christians as if they were his children. 04. At least Paul never had to go without food. 05. Paul never called these saints by the name of their city. I Found it in Verse(s) 06. Paul speaks of a temple. 07. Something unequal. 08. Something open. 09. The power of God. 10. Ministry not being blamed. Short Answer 11. As having, and yet all.
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 5 of 8 12. Paul used this C-word meaning agreement:. 13. Paul s title for himself and his co-workers: 14. Paul s strong motivation was that the be not. 15. Paul told them: BE YE ALSO. Each Question is worth 7 Points My Score is: Answers will be found on next week s handout ANSWERS to 2 Corinthians 5 Questions 01 False (10); 02 False (15); 03 True (20); 04 True (1); 05 True (5); 06 3; 07 13; 08 19; 09 9; 10 7; 11 groan (4); 12 the love of Christ (14); 13 new creature (17); 14 the terror of the Lord (11); 15 confident (6).
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 6 of 8 VII. Seek-A-Word Puzzle. The words may be backwards, diagonal, upside down, etc. See if you can find them all. The more you use the words of the Bible, the greater blessed you will be! You might be surprised at how much this little exercise will help you retain important truths. THANK YOU for the good effort you are putting forth in Bible study. DRL ACCEPTED ALSO APPROVING BEHOLD BESEECH BLAMED ENLARGED GIVING GRACE HEARD LIVE LORD MINISTERS MINISTRY MUCH OFFENCE PATIENCE RECEIVE REPORT RIGHTEOUSNESS SAITH SALVATION STRAITENED SUCCOURED TEMPLE THEN THING TIME TOGETHER VAIN
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 7 of 8 VIII. Crossword Puzzle. 2 Corinthians 6 (KJV) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ACROSS 02) Paul approved himself as minister by. 05) Ye are not in us. 08) By evil report and report. 10) by unfeigned. 12) As, and yet well known. 13) What hath Christ with Belial? 14) One way Paul approved himself as minister of God. DOWN 01) Paul approved himself as minister in these. 03) Paul said don t be yoked together this way. 04) The Lord Almighty says we can be His 06) A kind of armour. 07) God will be a unto you. 09) What communion hath light with? 11), yet making many rich.
A Study of 2 Corinthians 6...Page 8 of 8 IX. EXTRA CREDIT FOR SUPER Bible Students... Will you please consider answering these three SIMPLE questions based on the Bible text of this chapter? I will try to make use of your answers. Bring them with you next week. Tear out this last sheet from the Study Guide and be prepared to put it in a basket. I think it will be a great help to all of those in the class if you will do so. Thank you in advance for your marvelous cooperation!