2 Corinthians 6

Chap. VI. Ver. 1—18. Paul’s affection to the Corinthians, and his earnest exhortation to them to avoid idolaters.—The apostle here beseeches his brethren, as fellow-labourers, not to neglect the special privileges bestowed on them, as ambassadors of Christ; and entreats all whom he addresses, not to neglect the golden opportunity afforded them by the gospel of the grace of God, of seeking that salvation so long predicted, and so expensively accomplished in the sufferings and death of Christ. Here was a remedy of sovereign efficacy provided; and aggravated would be a guilt, who neglected and despised it; or if they delayed its application to their own case, eb. ii. 3. (eel perhaps, it te 4, be too late for ever.

(See) He then reminds his brethren in the ministry of the labours and sufferings they were called to endure, of the holy dispositions with which they ought to be sustained, and of the sacred means to be employed to render them available to their great object, the salvation of mankind, and to render themselves acceptable to their great Master, who had himself trodden the same path of sufferings and of labour. After enumerating these things with great distinctness, he bursts out into a passionate expression of his affection for the Corinthians, and his extreme anxiety for their salvation: “O ye Corinthians, our heart is enlarged” with affection, and “our mouth is open” freely to express it. “Now, for a recompense”—in return, (as if he had said,) may your bowels, my dear children, be enlarged toward us!

and express your affection, not in words only, but in a kind attention to our advice. The apostle then goes on to guard his Christian converts against any unnecessary connexion with their heathen neighbours. First and principally, he guards them against matrimonial connexions with unbelievers: “Be ye not unequally yoked;” in which there seems to be an allusion to the Mosaic law, which forbade plowing “with an ox and an ass together,” ((Deuteronomy 22:10)) the one the most laborious, and the other the most sluggish of all animals; meaning hereby, perhaps, to intimate, an heathen partner, in this state, would be a drawback upon all Christian duties and exertions, and greatly retard the course of obedience to the gospel.

This must be particularly the case, as to the two great points of family religion, and the education of children.—2. He objects to Christians having any communion in their idolatrous worship, and particularly the convivial feasts in their temples, on which he “had largely treated in his first epistle, but not, as it should seem, with complete success. (See 1 Epis. viii. 4, &c.) Now, from neither of these dangers are we exempt even in the present age. Many professors scruple not to marry into Roman Catholic families: not even with the forlorn hope of bringing them to the reformed religion; but with the most perfect indifference whether they had any, or what religion, provided the person and fortune of the party were agreeable.

It is true, that we have no invitations to dine in Catholic chapels; but it is not uncommon for Protestants to be drawn into them, to witness the splendour of their worship, and to hear their music; and then, how few are there who have the courage to show they take no part in the idolatry? It is a favourite maxim with the world, that “when we are at Rome, we must do as they do at Rome;” which evidently implies, that it is much better to conform to any idolatrous worship, than to be guilty of a breach of what is called “good manners.” On the danger of convivial meetings, we have already offered some remarks, (on (1 Corinthians 10)) which may apply in great measure to fashionable visits and parties of pleasure, in which though neither Jupiter nor Mars be worshipped, the god of this world—the gods of fashion, of pleasure, and of chance, are unequivocally acknowledged and adored; and the zeal with which they are served may put to the blush the devotions of

Notes on the verses

Ver. 18. And all things are of God—The blessed and only Creator: not from man, nor from any earthly source. Ver. 19. Committed unto us.—An allusion, perhaps, to (2 Corinthians 4:7). Ver. 20. Beseech you…. pray fe aieprmdits [this supplement] rejects this supplement, and Maclaine supplies the word “men.”——In Christ’s stead.—* When Christ was in the world, he pressed this treaty of reconciliation; and we [his apostles and inferior ministers] rise up in his stead, to urge it still farther.” Ver. 21. Made him to be sin.— Doddridge and Macknight render it, ‘a sin-offering;’ and the latter remarks, “There are many passages in the Old Testament where sin means a sin-offering, as (Hosea 4:8); also in the New Testament, (Hebrews 9:26-28); xiii. 11.” Chap. VI. Ver. 1. As workers together.—The supplementary words, “with God,” seem here unnecessary. Macknight renders it, “As fellow-labourers.” Some here refer the grace of God to ministerial gifts, and others to “the gospel of the grace of God” See (Galatians 1:6). (1 Corinthians 15:10). (Titus 2:11).—Gil’s Essence of God, part 1, §41. But we rather connect this with the clause of the preceding chapter, thus:—“Receive not [this] grace of God in vain”—i.e. the favour of being appointed ambassadors for God. Ver. 2. For he saith—i.e. Jehovah to Messiah. (Isaiah 49:8); compare (Hebrews 3:7). Ver. 6. By the Holy Ghost.—Macknight, “By a holy (or sanctified) spirit”—these being all equally the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s influences.

Ver. 7. The armour of righteousness.—See Ephes. vi, 11—18.——On the right hand and on the left.—Armed at all points,” as we say, or perhaps this may allude to soldiers who were taught to use their swords with both. Ver. 10. Possessing all things.—See (Romans 3:21-23). Ver. 13. Now for a recompense in the same—i.e. in return for my kindness towards you. Ver. 15. Christ with Belial?—i.e. wickedness. Ver. 16. What agreement hath the temple of God with idols?—See the history of Dagon, 1 Sam. v, 2—4.