Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 6:4

"but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses," — 2 Corinthians 6:4 (ASV)

But in all things. In every respect. In all that we do. In every way, both by words and deeds. How this was done, Paul proceeds to state in the following verses.

Approving ourselves as the ministers of God. The margin says, "Commending." Tyndale renders it, "In all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God." The idea is that Paul and his fellow-laborers endeavored to live as befitted the ministers of God, and so as to commend the ministry to the confidence and affection of people. They endeavored to live as was appropriate for those who were the ministers of God, and so that the world would be disposed to honor the ministry.

In much patience. In the patient endurance of afflictions of all kinds. Some of his trials he proceeds to enumerate. The idea is that a minister of God, in order to do good and to commend his ministry, should set an example of patience. He preaches this as a duty to others; and if, when he is poor, persecuted, oppressed, slandered, or imprisoned, he should murmur or be insubmissive, the consequence would be that he would do little good by all his preaching.

And no one can doubt that God often places his ministers in circumstances of particular trial, among other reasons, so that they may illustrate their own precepts by their example and show to their people with what attitude and spirit they can and ought to suffer. Ministers often do a great deal more good by their example in suffering than they do by their preaching.

It is easy to preach to others; it is not so easy to manifest just the right spirit in time of persecution and trial. People, too, can resist preaching, but they cannot resist the effect and power of a good example in times of suffering. Concerning the manner in which Paul says the ministry may commend itself, it can be observed that he groups several things together, or mentions several classes of influences or means. In this and the next verse, he refers to various kinds of afflictions. In the following verses, he groups several things together pertaining to a holy life and pure conduct.

In afflictions. In all our afflictions; referring to all the afflictions and trials that they were called to bear. The following words, in the manner of a climax, specify more particularly the kinds of trials they were called to endure.

In necessities. This is a stronger term than afflictions and denotes the distress that arose from want. He everywhere endured adversity. It denotes unavoidable distress and calamity.

In distresses. The word used here (stenocwria) properly denotes straitness of place, lack of room; then straits, distress, anguish. It is a stronger word than either of those he had used before. See it explained (refer to the commentary on Romans 2:9).

Paul means that in all these circumstances he had demonstrated patience and had endeavored to act as befitted a minister of God.