2 Corinthians 6

Ver. 1. — perfecting holiness] Always advancing in holiness on earth, till we arrive at perfection in heaven. Burkitt.

— In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear] From guilt “in this matter.” Dr. Whitby, Burkitt.

2 Corinthians 6:2

2. (For he saith, &c.] St. Paul here applies the words spoken to Christ at Isai. xlix. 8, in the person of God the Father, to the members of the church in Corinth. This, he says, when the Gospel is imported to you, is your time, which you are concerned, not to let slip. The argument drawn from hence is, that, when the grace of God is offered, we must be diligent to lay hold of, and improve it; knowing as we must, that this life is the utmost period of the day of grace; that the continuance of life is most uncertain; and that we cannot be sure that God will extend to us the opportunities of grace so long as life does continue. Dean Stanhope.

3. Receive us; ] Into your affections, as you have a large share in ours. Dr. Wells.

2 Corinthians 6:3

3. Giving no offence in any thing, &c.] We contribute to your salvation, not by our doctrine only, but by example too; demeaning ourselves so as to give no just prejudice against our persons or our functions. Dean Stanhope.

4. I speak not this to condemn you.] Of ingratitude or infidelity, though I have been obliged to find some fault with you. Dr. Doddridge.

— ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.] That is, we love you so passionately, that we could even die for the promotion of your welfare. Dr. Whitby.

2 Corinthians 6:4

4, 5. — in much patience, — in fastings;] That is, in constantly enduring all sorts of sufferings, and exercising all kinds of self-denial, for the Gospel’s sake. Dr. Whitby.

4. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, &c.] My freedom in mentioning your faults is great indeed, but withal I am as free in boasting of your obedience: and though I have had much grief and fear (ver. 5.) through the sins that were among you, yet the joy which I take in your repentance is extremely more abundant than was the sorrow. Dr. Hammond.

2 Corinthians 6:5

5. — without were fightings.] I met with strife and opposition in preaching the Gospel. Dr. Wells.

— within were fears.] I lest the false apostles should have perverted you from the simplicity which is in Christ, 2 Cor. xi. 3. Dr. Whitby.

2 Corinthians 6:6

6.—by knowledge.] By knowledge of the mysteries of God, or, as some explain it, by prudent carriage. Dean Stanhope.

—by the Holy Ghost.] By the diligent and proper use of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, for the real good and benefit of mankind. Pyle.

2 Corinthians 6:7

7. By the word of truth, &c.] By preaching the Gospel pure and uncorrupted; by the success and efficacy given by God to that preaching; by arming ourselves against all the temptations both of prosperity and of adversity. Dean Stanhope.

—by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.] “Sword,” Eph. vi. 17, and “shield,” ver. 16: offensive and defensive, for the spiritual conquering of others, for the spiritual preserving of ourselves against men and evil angels. Bp. Fell.

7. — by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you.] That is, by the news that he brought me, and with which he was so much comforted. Dr. Hammond.

— your earnest desire.] To be approved of us; your mourning for this just cause of scandal; your fervent affection towards me. Bp. Hall.

2 Corinthians 6:8

8. By honour and dishonour.] Not moved from our duty by the different treatment we experience: not exalted when others speak well, nor discouraged when they speak ill of us. Dean Stanhope. The Apostle shewed a remarkable example of proper behaviour under “honour” at Lystra, when the priest of Jupiter was going to offer sacrifice to him as a god; and afterwards under “dishonour,” when the people of Lystra, at the instigation of the Jews, stoned him as a magician, and left him for dead in the street. Dr. Macknight.

8, 9.—as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known;] Counted as deceivers, when yet we are most faithful dispensers of the truth of God; esteemed and looked on by some as if they knew us not, by others owned and valued. Dr. Hammond.

8. — with a letter.] My former Epistle. Dr. Wells.

— I do not repent, though I did repent: ] ‘I am not sorry now, though I was sorry’ when I wrote the Epistle, doing it “with many tears,” chap. ii. 4. Dr. Whitby.

2 Corinthians 6:9

9.—as dying, and, behold, we live; &c.] We seem every day at the point of death, but still God preserves us. Our persecutions exercise us, but they do not destroy us. Dean Stanhope.

2 Corinthians 6:10

10.—alway rejoicing;] In the testimony of a good conscience, and in the spiritual comforts that we feel. Dr. Hammond, Dean Stanhope.

—making many rich;] By conferring on multitudes that which is the true, the most valuable riches. Dr. Hammond.

—possessing all things.] In contentedness of mind, Phil. iv. 18; in the favour of that God, who giveth all things richly to enjoy, 1 Tim. vi. 17; in Christ Jesus, who is all in all, Col. iii. 11; and in whom we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, Eph. i. 3; and in the promise to inherit all things, Rev. xxi. 7. Dr. Whitby.

10. — repentance to salvation not to be repented of: ] That is, a repentance, never to be repented of, yea to be joyed in; such a repentance as leads to eternal salvation. Bp. Hall. A change of mind, and amendment of our faults, the natural fruits of godly sorrow. Bp. Fell.

— the sorrow of the world] Either, the sorrow of worldly men, or sorrow for worldly things. Burkitt.

— worketh death.] It doth but “dry up the bones” to no purpose, Prov. xvii. 22; and, if it be suffered to prevail over the heart, ends in despair and death. Bp. Hall.

2 Corinthians 6:11

11—13. O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, &c.] These words are very pathetick, and expressive of St. Paul’s most affectionate and ardent love towards the Corinthians, whom he had been the happy instrument of converting to Christianity. He tells them, “his mouth was open to them,” to fill them with the treasures of Gospel-knowledge, and to express the good affections that he bore towards them; and “his heart enlarged” towards them in all affectionate love and holy desires of their good. If therefore they were straitened in affection towards him, it must be through mistakes and misapprehensions on their part. He therefore conjures them, in requital of his Christian and parental affection towards them, to bestow the same love upon him their spiritual father, which he had manifested to them his beloved children. Burkitt, Bp. Hall.

11. For behold this self same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort.] For behold this godly sorrow, that my letter occasioned, what good effects it hath wrought in you. Bp. Hall.

— what carefulness] To conform yourselves to my orders; “yea, what clearing of yourselves” from the guilt of the miscarriages among you; “yea, what indignation” against those who had been the causes of them; “yea, what fear” to offend me; “yea, what vehement desire” to satisfy me; “yea, what zeal” for my honour; “yea, what revenge” against yourselves for having been

2 Corinthians 6:12

12. — not for his cause &c.] Not so much for any particular man’s cause, either the offender’s or that of the party wronged. Bp. Hall. Or, not for any delight I took in punishing the incestuous offender, nor any partial kindness for the person injured: but from my sincere concern for the credit and good of your whole church. Pyle.

2 Corinthians 6:13

13.—a recompence in the same.] That is, in the same kind: the meaning is, shewing the same affection by way of recompence. Dr. Whitby.

13. — in your comfort: ] In those evidences and fruits of a true repentance, which you discovered, and which are matter of great comfort to you. Burkitt.

— because his spirit was refreshed by you all.] On observing your ready compliance with the directions in my former Epistle. Burkitt.

2 Corinthians 6:14

14. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:] As if the Apostle had said, Out of this tender love and care of mine I do advise and charge you, that ye do not make so unequal matches for yourselves, as to be joined in marriage with infidels. Bp. Hall.

By the law, animals of different kinds were not joined together in one yoke; see Deut. xxii. 10. But the phrase “unequally yoked” being used here to express the marriage of a believer with an infidel, it is perhaps an allusion to Lev. xix. 19. The Apostle’s precept, besides prohibiting marriages with infidels, forbids also believers to contract friendships, or to enter into any kind of connexion with infidels, which requires much familiar intercourse, lest the believer should be tempted to join with the infidel in his wicked principles and practices. Dr. Macknight.

14.—16.—for what fellowship—with idols?] The Apostle’s meaning in these verses is, that righteousness and wickedness, light and darkness, Christ and the devil, the portion of believers and of unbelievers, the temple of God and the temple of idols, are not more inconsistent, than Christians and heathens are in their characters, inclinations, actions, and expectations. And therefore Christians should not of choice connect themselves intimately, by marriage or otherwise, with infidels, or wicked persons of any sort. Dr. Macknight.

2 Corinthians 6:15

15.—with Belial?] Belial is a Hebrew word implying a wicked worthless man, one resolved to endure no

discharge of his ministry. CHAP. VI, VII. He exhorteth them to purity of life.

15. — how with fear and trembling ye received him.] With what reverence and awe of his ministry. Bp. Hall. Lest there should be found in you any thing that might offend him, or require my rod. Dr. Whitby.

Chap. VIII. The Apostle’s design, in this and the Anno DOMINI 60.

2 Corinthians 6:16

16. — for ye are the temple of the living God: ] See the notes on 1 Cor. iii. 16.

— as God hath said, I will dwell in them, &c.] The Apostle refers to the words of the Deity at Levit. xxvi. 11, 12; and intends to say to the Corinthians, This promise is now fulfilled in you who have the Spirit of God dwelling in you by His supernatural gifts and operations. Dr. Macknight.

2 Corinthians 6:17

17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, &c.] See Isaiah, as cited in the margin. The Apostle argues, that as the privileges, conferred upon the Jews, obliged them to preserve themselves from all heathen conversation, and from the pollution of every unclean thing; much more highly must it oblige Christian people to separate from all impure and idolatrous worship. Pyle.

2 Corinthians 6:18

18. And will be a Father unto you, &c.] These words are not found exactly any where in the Old Testament. The passage which comes nearest to them, Isaiah 2 Sam. vii. 14, where speaking of David’s seed, God said, “I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son.” Now as that prophecy in its primary meaning related to Christ and His people, (see Heb. i. 5,) the promises contained in it were spoken to believers of all nations. Dr. Macknight.

What a powerful argument do these words minister to all Christians, to “cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God!” as they desire this Almighty Lord and Protector to be still present with them, and would avoid the dreadful woe which will certainly follow upon His departure, Hos. ix. 12; as they would have this God to be their God, which is a state of perfect bliss, for “blessed are the people, who have the Lord for their God;” as they would have Him stand to them in the

HAVING therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.