Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 6

If God “[made] his appeal” (GK 4151) to people through Paul (5:20), there was a sense in which Paul was a fellow worker with God (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9). As such he was concerned to plead God’s cause with unbelievers and believers alike. Hence this urging (GK 4151), addressed to the whole body of Christians at Corinth, “not to receive God’s grace in vain.” This latter phrase may mean one of two things: (1) Paul does not want the Corinthians to show by their present lives that they had received God’s grace to no purpose. (2) Paul does not want the Corinthians to spurn the grace of God, which was being perpetually offered to them. How could they fail to profit from that grace? By refusing to purify themselves from everything that contaminated body and spirit (7:1; 12:20–21), by allowing a chasm to develop between faith and conduct, or by embracing a different gospel (11:4), one based on observing the law as the ground of acceptance before God.

To emphasize the seriousness and urgency of his appeal and to highlight the privilege of the present and the danger of procrastination, Paul quotes Isa 49:8 and then applies the passage to the age of grace. In its original context this quotation belongs to a section of Isaiah where the Lord directly addresses his Servant who has been “despised and abhorred by the nation” (Isaiah 49:7), promising him vindication before people in due time and calling on him to carry out the work of restoration after the return from exile. Paul uses the quotation to establish that the gospel era (“now”) is “the day of salvation,” when God’s favor is shown to humankind. How unthinkable that such grace should be received in vain (v.1)!

Since v.2 is grammatically a parenthesis, v.3 is closely connected to v.1 and 5:20. As was fitting for an ambassador for Christ, Paul tried to put “no stumbling block [GK 4683] in anyone’s path” lest the ministry should incur discredit. That various accusations were being leveled against Paul was inevitable, given the success of his ministry and the jealousy of others. His concern was that such charges be totally without foundation, that no “minister of reconciliation” be guilty of inconsistent or dishonest conduct, and that no handle be given adversaries who wished to ridicule or malign the Gospel. The life of the Christian minister is the most eloquent advertisement for the Gospel.

Paul proceeds to itemize his hardships (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9–13; 2 Corinthians 4:8–9; 11:23– 29) as he seeks to commend and defend his ministry as a servant of God and to provide the Corinthians with further material they might use in his defense (cf. 5:12). Paul’s commendation was a matter of actions, not words.

After a reference to the “great endurance” that marked all his service and suffering (cf. 12:12), Paul lists nine afflictions, which fall into three groups. (1) General trials: “troubles” are oppressive experiences; “hardships” refer to unrelieved adverse circumstances; “distresses” are frustrating tight corners (cf. 4:8). (2) Sufferings directly inflicted by others: “beatings, imprisonments and riots.” (3) Self-inflicted hardships: “hard work” includes the arduous task of incessant preaching and the toil of manual labor (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–8); “sleepless nights” means voluntary abstention from sleep (cf. Acts 20:7–11); “hunger” probably refers to voluntary fastings (cf. 11:27).

Paul proceeds to itemize his hardships (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:9–13; 2 Corinthians 4:8–9; 11:23– 29) as he seeks to commend and defend his ministry as a servant of God and to provide the Corinthians with further material they might use in his defense (cf. 5:12). Paul’s commendation was a matter of actions, not words.

After a reference to the “great endurance” that marked all his service and suffering (cf. 12:12), Paul lists nine afflictions, which fall into three groups. (1) General trials: “troubles” are oppressive experiences; “hardships” refer to unrelieved adverse circumstances; “distresses” are frustrating tight corners (cf. 4:8). (2) Sufferings directly inflicted by others: “beatings, imprisonments and riots.” (3) Self-inflicted hardships: “hard work” includes the arduous task of incessant preaching and the toil of manual labor (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–8); “sleepless nights” means voluntary abstention from sleep (cf. Acts 20:7–11); “hunger” probably refers to voluntary fastings (cf. 11:27).