John Gill Commentary 2 Corinthians 6

We then, as workers together with him
The ministers of the Gospel are workers or labourers; their ministry is a work, and a very laborious one, which none have strength equal to, and are sufficient for; of themselves: it is a work that requires faithfulness and diligence, is honourable; and those who perform it aright deserve respect. These do not work alone: according to our version, they are "workers together with him"; meaning either God or Christ, not as co-ordinate with him, but as subordinate to him: he is the chief shepherd, they under ones; he is the chief master builder, they under workers; but inasmuch as he is with them, and they with him, he is over them, and stands by them, great honour is done them; they have encouragement to work; and hence it is that their work is successful.

Though the phrase, "with him", is not in the original text, where only one word, (sunergountev) , is used, and may be rendered "fellow workers", or "fellow labourers", meaning with one another: and since therefore reconciliation was made by Christ, and the ministry of it was committed to them, and they were appointed ambassadors for him, and were in his stead, therefore, say they,

we beseech you also ;
you ministers also; as we have entreated the members of the church, to be reconciled to the order of the Gospel, and the laws of Christ in his house, so as fellow labourers with you, and jointly concerned in the same embassy of peace, we beseech you the ministers of the word in this church,

that ye receive not the grace of God in vain :
By "the grace of God", is not meant the grace of God in regeneration, and effectual calling, which can never be received in vain; for the grace of God never fails of producing a thorough work of conversion; nor is it ever lost, but is strictly connected with eternal, glory: but by it is meant either the doctrine of grace, the Gospel of Christ, so called, because it is a declaration of the love and grace of God to sinners, ascribes salvation in part, and in whole, to the free grace of God, and is a means of implanting and increasing grace in the hearts of men. Now this may be received in vain by ministers and people, when it is but notionally received, or received in word only: when it is abused and perverted to vile purposes, and when men drop, deny it, and fall off from it; or else by the grace of God may be designed gifts of grace, qualifying for ministerial service; and the sense of the exhortation be, that they be careful that the gifts bestowed on them might not be neglected by them, but be used and improved to the advantage of the church, and the glory of Christ; by giving up themselves to study, meditation, and prayer, by labouring constantly in the word and doctrine, and by having a strict regard to their lives and conversations, "that the ministry be not blamed"; which exhortation he pursues in, and by his own example and others, in some following verses, the next being included in a "parenthesis".

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted

These words are a citation from (Isaiah 49:8) and are spoken by the Father to Christ, declaring he has heard him, as he always did.

He heard him when he put up that prayer to him, recorded (John 17:1–26) for the glorification of himself, by strengthening him as man in his work, by raising him from the dead, setting him at his own right hand, and giving him the glory he had with him before the world was.

He also heard him for the good of his people, the preservation of those that were called, the conversion of them that are called, and the glorification of all the Father had given him.

He heard him in the garden and answered him.

The will of God was done according to his desire, and his will was conformed to the will of his Father, and he was delivered from the fear of death.

His ends in his prayer there were answered, which were to show the greatness of his sufferings, the impossibility of man's salvation in any other way, and that there could be no alteration made in the methods of obtaining it.

He heard him on the cross with respect to the deliverance of him from man, with regard to his being forsaken by God, and for the forgiveness of his enemies.

Now this period of time in which he was heard on account of these several things is called a time accepted; or, as in the Hebrew text, (Nwur te) , "a time of good will, or acceptance".

This was a season in which God expressed good will to the sons of men by sending his own Son to work out salvation for them.

This was good will to men, and not to angels, to such as were ungodly, enemies, sinners, and the worst of sinners.

It was a time very grateful to him; it was "the accepted year of the Lord".

The sufferings, sacrifice, satisfaction, and righteousness of his Son were well pleasing to him.

This was because his purposes, promises, and covenant transactions had their accomplishment, his perfections were glorified, and his people saved.

And it was a time of acceptance, or an acceptable time to men, since it was the day of their salvation.

Therefore it must be exceedingly agreeable to all such who see their need of it, know the worth of it, and are sensible that there is no other way of salvation than by him.

And in the day of salvation have I succoured thee

These words are still spoken to Christ, who while he was in human nature, working out the salvation of his people by his obedience, sufferings, and death, was succoured, or helped by his Father.

This help was promised to him as man. He expected it and exercised faith on God for it. It was actually and punctually given him.

This is no instance of weakness in Christ, who is the mighty God and was mighty to save. It is an indication of the Father's regard to the human nature of Christ and of his concern for the salvation of men. It also shows what power and strength were necessary to accomplish it.

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation

These are the words of the apostle, applying the former to the present Gospel dispensation. He introduces them by prefixing a "behold" to each sentence, to raise attention to and admiration at what is delivered:

now is the accepted time ;

not that the Gospel dispensation is a milder dispensation of things, in which God will accept of an imperfect sincere obedience to his law, in the room of a perfect one; or in which Christ is now offered to sinners, and it is left to them whether they will accept of him or not:

but it is so called, because God and Christ now testify their good will to the sons of men and are ready to accept of and embrace poor sensible sinners coming to them. It is also because the Gospel publishes salvation by Christ, which, as it is worthy of their acceptation, cannot but be acceptable to them:

now is the day of salvation :

Now is salvation preached, as being done, already obtained by Christ for sinners, the chief of sinners.

It is now brought home to their souls by the ministration of the Gospel under the influence of the Spirit of God.

Now sinners are convinced of their need of it and that it cannot be had elsewhere.

Now they are made to submit to Christ, to be saved by him and him alone.

They are encouraged to believe in him and are by him actually possessed of it.

"Now" is, and not yesterday was, the day of salvation.

And "now", and that for ever, that is, as long as the Gospel dispensation continues.

For it will be always now till all the elect of God are gathered in.

This day of grace and salvation will never be over till that time comes.

It is still "now is the day of salvation." Though men may have long withstood the ministration of the Gospel, and notwithstanding their manifold sins and transgressions.

There is no withstanding the "now" of grace when it comes with the power of the Holy Ghost.

Giving no offence in anything These words are in connection with (2 Corinthians 6:1) and to be considered either as a continuation of the exhortation to others, that they would take care to give no offence to any; or rather as an account the apostle gives of himself, and other ministers, by way of example; and is as if he had said, I Paul, Timotheus, Silvanus, and other ministers of the word, take all possible care to lay no stumblingblock in the way of the hearers of the Gospel; to give no offence to them that are without, or to them that are within, to Jew or Gentile, or to the church of God, neither by word nor writing, by doctrine or conversation, or in any way whatever:

that the ministry be not blamed; the ministry of the word of reconciliation, which they had received of the Lord Jesus. The apostle knew there were persons enough who were waiting all opportunities, and taking all advantages to vilify and reproach the ministry of the Gospel, and so hinder its progress and spread; and that if that was once brought into contempt by the disagreeable conduct of the preachers of it, there would be but little hope of success from it.

Some copies read, "our ministry"; and so the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; the Ethiopic version reads, "your ministry".

But in all things approving ourselves
It is not sufficient for a minister of the Gospel to avoid everything that might bring any blot or scandal on his ministry; but he should in all things, and by all ways and means, proper, lawful, and laudable, approve, prove, and show himself to be a true and faithful dispenser of the word. All in such an office ought to make it appear, that they are such by behaving and conducting

as the ministers of God ;
as becomes such, whom he has chosen, called, and fitted for that service; and particularly in, or

by much patience ;
by a large, constant, and continued exercise of that grace; and by bearing patiently many things for the sake of Christ, and his Gospel, without murmuring at the hand of God, or being angry with men, and without fainting and sinking in their own spirits:

in afflictions ;
that is, in patiently bearing, them. This word may be considered as a general word, including all sorts of afflictions whatever, of which the following are particular species:

in necessities ;
want of food, drink, and raiment, being hungry, thirsty, and naked, as the apostles sometimes were: in distresses; both of bad mind; being in such straits and difficulties they know not where to look, what course to steer, or which way to turn themselves.

In stripes
As the Apostle Paul particularly was, who was thrice beaten with rods, and five times scourged by the Jews with the scourge of forty stripes save one.

In imprisonments ;
under which are included bonds, in which they often were for the Gospel of Christ:

in tumults ;
and uproars of the people, when their lives were frequently in imminent danger: or "in tossings to and fro"; being driven from place to place through the fury of their enemies;

in labours ;
in a laborious ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances; or by labouring with their own hands to supply their necessities:

in watchings ;
being obliged to work night and day at their hand labour, and in preaching, praying, and singing psalms; which exercises they were often employed in at midnight:

in fastings ;
by which are meant not voluntary, but involuntary ones, through want of food to eat.