2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:1

We gospel-ministers being therefore joint labourers with God, and uniting with one another in this great work, under his direction and influence, earnestly exhort, entreat, and beseech you, Corinthians and others, that ye do not lightly esteem these glad tidings and offers of reconciliation with God, or receive them only in notion and profession, and so render them ineffectual for conveying God’s blessings, gifts, or graces, to the saving of your soul, and unfruitful for the production of true holiness

2 Corinthians 6:2

But as God, according to his ancient promise by Isaiah, hath, in answer to the requests of his Son, seasonably assisted him in his work of purchasing our redemption, and accepted his sacrifice, in the room of Gentiles as well as Jews, let me beseech you, in this noted period of Christ’s publishing, offering, and applying, his salvation, to make sure your interest in, and enjoyment of it

2 Corinthians 6:3

In fulfilling this our infinitely important ministerial work, we have been divinely enabled to behave with such circumspection and caution towards all men, as to give no just offence even to our enemies, and have done nothing tending to draw reproach on our office, dishonour on Christ, or to mar the success of his gospel: 4, 5. But in all things have approved ourselves to Christ, and the consciences of his people, as diligent and faithful ministers, who have our commission from God, and are employed and owned by him in his service, and pursue the great designs of his glory, by our abundant meekness and patience towards men, and calm resignation and submission to the will of God, in the manifold tribulations which we suffer for Christ’s sake, and in our extreme want even of necessary provisions, and the great straits and perplexities to which we have been often reduced—in our enduring ignominious and painful scourgings; in hard imprisonments under the custody of cruel officers; in outrageous insurrections of insulting and furious mobs;—and in the want of ordinary sleep and food

2 Corinthians 6:6

Which patience hath been promoted by, and carried on in, great integrity, in preaching the gospel with a single eye to the glory of God and the good of precious souls; and in a modest and chaste behaviour, and purity of doctrine and manners; in a believing acquaintance with gospel-truth, and a spiritual wisdom and understanding answerable to it; in such lenity and forbearance as to put up with affronts and bear calmly under every provocation; in such kindness of temper as makes us to delight in doing good to all, and rendering good for evil; and by the special assistance of the Holy Ghost, in his gifts and graces, which furnish us for, direct and animate us in, the work of the Lord: 7. By the light and comfort of the gospel, which God, who cannot lie, hath published; and which we believe without doubting, and preach without any mixture of error; and by the almighty power of God, which assists and supports us under all our trials and labours; and, in fine, by the whole armour of God, by which we are completely furnished, to war valiantly, acceptably, and successfully, against all our spiritual enemies, of every kind and on every side

2 Corinthians 6:8

And being thus fortified against all our trials, we, with steadiness of temper, go through every change and form of our much diversified lot; through the good esteem of some, without being puffed up; through the contempt and abuse of others, without being dispirited; through hard speeches and slanders, without being discouraged; and through commendations and applause, without being proud of them. For in the holy providence of God, we are represented as hypocritical impostors who seduce mankind; and yet, as true servants of Christ, we are sincere and faithful in preaching the gospel in all that we say or do

2 Corinthians 6:9

Some, ignorant of our true character, represent us as mean, worthless, and obscure; others, from their own experience of our powerful ministrations, holy conversation, and unshaken patience in suffering, and from the information of such as have experienced the like, know us to be highly honoured of God. We are in perpetual jeopardy, as persons in the jaws of death, and yet God wonderfully preserves us in life and comfort. We are severely chastened by the hands of both God and men, and yet both our lives and hopes are maintained

2 Corinthians 6:10

In outward appearance we are in a very melancholy and miserable condition; and yet we are inwardly full of the joys of faith and of a good conscience, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We are indeed poor with respect to this world, having none of its affluence or accommodations; and yet we are instruments in Christ’s hand of making many rich towards God in faith and good works, and heirs of his kingdom, along with ourselves. We scarcely possess any earthly enjoyments, and look down upon them with holy indifference; and yet we have all things spiritual, temporal, and eternal, in Christ our Head, who hath received them for our use

2 Corinthians 6:11

My dear Corinthians, we thus freely open our mind to you, that ye may be encouraged by thus hearing of our behaviour, supports, and consolations, under all our sufferings for Christ; and be able to vindicate our character against those who reproach us; and our hearts are so full of affection to you, and concern for your spiritual edification and eternal salvation, that we think nothing too much for promoting them

2 Corinthians 6:12

There is no want of love in our heart, or of zeal in our work, to promote to the utmost your establishment and growth in light, faith, love, comfort, and holiness; nor is there any deficiency in the gracious doctrines, promises, and privileges, which we preach: but there are some of you, whose hearts, through the working of unbelief, carnality, and coolness of affection, are shut against us, and against the consolations which are in Christ for you

2 Corinthians 6:13

But now, in return for our great love to you, and our earnest desires and labours to promote your spiritual welfare, I beg that ye, as loving children, would enlarge your affection towards us, and cheerfully receive the truths and blessings of the gospel, which we recommend to you

2 Corinthians 6:14

And I earnestly insist, that ye never intermarry with such as appear destitute of the knowledge and grace of the gospel; never cultivate any unnecessary familiarity with them; and above all, never join with them in any of their idolatrous worship, which would amount to a practical renouncing of your communion with Christ. For what holy and delightful friendship can there be between one who is renewed and sanctified, and one who remains under the dominion of sin? 2 What religious fellowship can there be between a savingly enlightened Christian, and one who knows nothing of God, of Christ, or the gospel, but is plainly a subject of Satan, the prince of darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:15

What harmony can there be between the true members of Christ and the manifest children of Satan, that lawless arch-rebel against God? Or what comfortable joint portion can one who believeth in Christ have with one who, in profession and practice, rejects him?

2 Corinthians 6:16

And what proper agreement can there be between you, who are the divinely-consecrated temples of God, and, according to his promise, honoured with his special presence, as your God, Master, and Lord, and them who are the temples of idols, and devoted to their service?

2 Corinthians 6:17

Remember therefore, that as God required his ancient people the Jews to improve their distinguished privileges, in abstaining from all unnecessary connexion with idolaters; so he requires you, and other Christians, whose privileges are much more glorious, to renounce all the unfruitful works of darkness, and have no fellowship with idolatrous or profane persons, beyond what the civil duties of life require

2 Corinthians 6:18

To encourage you to which he promises to make up all your losses, by allowing you the most familiar fellowship with himself here and hereafter, and with all the kindness of a divine Parent, blessing you, as heirs of himself, with all spiritual blessings in Christ

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. VI.—It is very honourable to be a faithful minister, a worker together with God, in that glorious cause which is founded on Christ’s acceptance with the Father, that sinners might be accepted in him. And earnestly should we improve present opportunities, in receiving Christ and his fulness, since they may quickly be irrecoverably ended and gone. Ministers have need of much grace in them, and much prayer for them, that they may approve themselves faithful to God in all their labours, and under all their manifold sufferings. And it is shameful when their affectionate regard to their hearers is rewarded with neglect and contempt. Great care is necessary in Christians to keep at a proper distance from wicked persons and things. And if God graciously become ours, and make us his, and dwell in and with us, no idol ought to be harboured in our heart