---
title: "Clarke"
description: "Verse 2 Corinthians 6:1. We then, as workers together with him] συνεργουντες δε και παρακαλουμεν. The two last words, with him, are not in the text, and s"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-corinthians/6"
---

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:1](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/1). ***We then, as workers together*****with him**] συνεργουντες δε και παρακαλουμεν. The two last words, *with him*, are not in the text, and some supply the place thus: *we then, as workers together* WITH YOU, and the *Armenian* version seems to have read it so; but no MS. has this reading, and no other version. For my own part I see nothing wanting in the text if we only suppose the term *apostles; we*, (i.e. apostles,) *being fellow workers, also entreat* *you not to receive the grace of God in vain*.
By the *grace of God*, την χαριν του θεου, *this grace* or *benefit of God*, the apostle certainly means the *grand sacrificial* *offering* of Christ for the sin of the world, which he had just before mentioned in speaking of the *ministry of reconciliation*. We learn, therefore, that it was possible to *receive the grace of* *God* and not ultimately benefit by it; or, in other words, to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh. Should any one say that it is the *ministry of reconciliation*, that is, the *benefit of apostolic* preaching, that they might receive in vain; I answer, that the apostolic preaching, and the whole ministry of reconciliation, could be no *benefit* to any man farther than it might have been a means of conveying to him the salvation of God. And it is most evident that the apostle has in view that grace or benefit that reconciles us to God, and makes us Divinely righteous. And this, and all other benefits of the death of Christ, may be received in vain.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/2). ***For he saith*** — That is, God hath said it, by the prophet Isaiah, [Isaiah 49:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/8); which place the apostle quotes *verbatim et literatim* from the *Septuagint*. And from this we may at once see what is the *accepted time*, and what *the day of* *salvation*. The *advent of the Messiah* was the עת רצון *eth* *ratson*, the time of God's pleasure or benevolence, of which all the faithful were in expectation; and the *day of salvation*, יום שועה yom yeshuah, was the time in which this salvation should be manifested and applied. The apostle therefore informs them that *this* is the *time* predicted by the prophet; and the *ministry* *of reconciliation* being exercised in full force is a proof that the prophecy is fulfilled; and therefore the apostle confidently asserts, *Behold*, NOW *is this accepted time*, NOW the Messiah reigns, NOW is the Gospel dispensation, and therefore NOW *is the* *day of salvation*; that is, the very time in which the power of God is present to heal, and in which every sinner believing on the Lord Jesus may be saved.
I rather think that this *second verse* should be read immediately after the last verse of the preceding chapter; as where it now stands it greatly disturbs the connection between the *first* and the *third* verses. I will set down the whole in the order in which I think they should stand. [2 Corinthians 5:20](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/20): *Now then we are ambassadors for Christ; as though God did beseech* *you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, to be reconciled to God.* *For he hath made him a sin-offering for us, who knew no sin, that* *we might be made the righteousness of God in him: for he saith,* "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee." *Behold, now is the accepted time; behold,* *now is the day of salvation.* Immediately after this, the sixth chapter will very properly commence, and we shall see that the connection will be then undisturbed:-
We then, *as fellow workers, beseech you also, that ye receive* *not this grace of God in vain, giving no offence in any thing,* *that this ministry be not blamed.* This change of the place of the second verse, which every one allows must, if it stand here, be read in a parenthesis, preserves the whole connection of the apostle's discourse, and certainly sets his argument before us in a stronger light. Let us review the whole:
1. God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, [2 Corinthians 5:18](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/18).
2. He appointed the apostles to proclaim to mankind the doctrine of reconciliation, [2 Corinthians 5:19](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/19).
3. The apostles, in consequence, proclaim this doctrine; and show that Christ was a sacrifice for sin, and that through him we may be perfectly saved, [2 Corinthians 5:20](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/20); [2 Corinthians 5:21](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/5/21).
4. They show also that all this was agreeable to the declaration of God by the prophet Isaiah, [Isaiah 49:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/8), where he predicts the days of the Messiah, and the *grace* then to be communicated, [2 Corinthians 6:2](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/2).
5. The apostle then, speaking in the person of all his fellow labourers, who had this ministry of reconciliation intrusted to them, exhorts them not to receive such a benefit of God in vain, [2 Corinthians 6:1](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/1).
6. He exhorts those who had embraced the Gospel not to put a stumbling block in the way of others, by acting irreligiously, lest this ministry of reconciliation should be reproached on their account, [2 Corinthians 6:3](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/3).
7. He shows what conscientious and scrupulous care he and his fellow apostles took to preach and walk so that this ministry might have its full effect, [2 Corinthians 6:4](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/4), &c.
This view of the subject, if I mistake not, shows a beautiful consistency throughout the whole.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:3](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/3). ***Giving no offence*** — The word προσκοπη, read προσκομμα, [Romans 14:13](../../../kjv/romans/14/13), signifies a *stumbling block* in general, or any thing over which a man stumbles or falls; and here means any *transgression* or *scandal* that might take place among the ministers, or the Christians themselves, whereby either Jews or Gentiles might take occasion of offence, and vilify the Gospel of Christ.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:4](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/4). ***But in all things approving ourselves*** — The apostle now proceeds to show how conscientiously himself and his fellow labourers acted, in order to render the ministry of reconciliation effectual to the salvation of men. They not only gave no offence in any thing, but they laboured to manifest themselves to be the genuine ministers of God, *in much patience*-bearing calmly up under the most painful and oppressive afflictions.
***In afflictions*** — εν φλιψεσιν. This may signify the *series* of persecutions and distresses in general; the *state* of cruel suffering in which the Church of God and the apostles then existed.
***In necessities*** — εν αναγκαις. *Straits* and *difficulties*; including all that *want* and affliction which arose from the *impoverished* state of the Church.
***In distresses*** — εν στενοχωριαις. Such straits and difficulties as were absolutely *unavoidable* and *insurmountable*. The word implies, *being reduced to a narrow place, driven to a corner,* *hemmed in on every side*, as the Israelites were at the Red Sea; the sea before them, Pharaoh and his host behind them, and Egyptian fortresses on either hand. God alone could bring them out of such difficulties, when their enemies themselves saw that *the wilderness had shut them in*. So was it often with the apostles; all human help failed, and their deliverance came from God alone.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:5](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/5). ***In stripes, in imprisonments*** — Of these the history of the Acts of the Apostles gives ample testimony; and there were doubtless many instances of persecution in various forms which are not on record.
***In tumults*** — ακαταστασιαις. *Insurrections* raised against them because of the Gospel. It is more natural to understand the word thus, than of agitations, or tossings to and fro in consequence of their unsettled state of life; or because of persecution, which obliged them to flee from place to place.
***In labours*** — Both with our own *hands* to provide for ourselves the necessaries of life, that we might not be chargeable to others; and *in labours* to *spread the Gospel* of God through all countries where his providence opened our way.
***In watchings*** — Passing many nights without sleep or rest.
***In fastings*** — Partly constrained through want of food; and partly *voluntary*, as a means of obtaining an increase of grace both for ourselves and for the Churches.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:6](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/6). ***By pureness*** — εν αγνοτητι. In *simplicity* of intention, and *purity of affection*; together with that *chastity* and *holiness* of life which the Gospel enjoins.
***By knowledge*** — Of the Divine mysteries.
***By long-suffering*** — Under all provocations.
***By kindness*** — To our most virulent persecutors, and to all men.
***By the Holy Ghost*** — There are doubts among learned men whether the apostle here means that SPIRIT who is called the *third person* of the *holy* TRINITY; or some *grace, disposition*, or *quality* of the soul, which was thus denominated, as implying a *spirit* wholly *purified*, and fitted to be a *habitation* of God.
*Schoettgen* quotes a passage from *Rabbi Bechai*, in which it appears to him to have this latter meaning: "Rabbi Pinchas, the son of Jair, said: *Reflection* leads to sedulity; *sedulity* to innocence; *innocence* to abstinence; *abstinence* to cleanness; *cleanness* to sanctity; *sanctity* to the fear of sin; *fear* of *sin* to humility; *humility* to piety; and *piety* to the *Holy Spirit*. Of these *ten* virtues *five* are external, or belong to the body; and *five* internal, or belonging to the soul; but all men prefer the *tenth*, which is רוח הקדש *ruach haktodesh*, the *Holy Spirit*." Even allowing Rabbi Pinchas to be a person on whose judgment we could rely, and whose authority was decisive, there does not appear to me any reason why we should depart from the usual meaning of the term from any thing that is said here. It appears to me plain enough that the rabbi means the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and St. Paul, in this place, may have the same thing in view, and with it the various *gifts* of the Holy Spirit by which he was enabled to work *miracles*.
***By love unfeigned*** — εν αγαπη ανυποκριτω. *Love without* *hypocrisy*; such as disposed us at all times to lay down our life for the brethren, and to spend and be spent for the glory of God and the good of mankind.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:7](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/7). ***By the word of truth*** — The doctrine of truth received immediately from God, and faithfully and affectionately preached to men.
***By the power of God*** — Confirming this doctrine, not only by the miracles which we were enabled to work, but also by the application of that truth to the souls of the people by the energy of God.
***By the armour of righteousness*** — Such as that described by the apostle, [Ephesians 6:13-17](../../../kjv/ephesians/6/13-17), which he calls there *the whole armour of God*, consisting of the following pieces: the *girdle* of *truth*, the *breastplate* of *righteousness*, the *shoes* of the Gospel of *peace*, the *shield* of *faith*, the *helmet* of *salvation*, and the *sword* of the *Spirit*.
***On the right hand and on the left*** — Particularly, the *shield* and the *sword*; the former on the *left arm*, the latter in the *right* *hand*. We have the doctrine of truth, and the power of God, as an armour to protect us on *all sides, every where*, and *on all* *occasions*.
It seems far-fetched to understand the *right hand* as signifying *prosperity*, and the *left* as signifying *adversity*; as if the apostle had said: We have this armour to defend us both in prosperity and adversity. By the doctrine of the Gospel, and by the power of God, the apostles were furnished with *offensive* and *defensive* weapons; they could ever *defend themselves*, and *discomfit* their *foes*.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:8](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/8). ***By honour and dishonour*** — By going through both; sometimes respected, sometimes despised.
***By evil report and good report*** — Sometimes praised, at other times calumniated.
***As deceivers*** — Said to carry about a false doctrine for our secular emolument.
***And*****yet*****true*** — Demonstrated by the nature of the doctrine, as well as by our life and conversation, that we are true men; having nothing in view but God's glory and the salvation of the world.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:9](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/9). ***As unknown*** — Persons who are to be suspected as harbouring dark designs; persons of neither birth, parentage, nor respectable connections in life;
***And*****yet*****well known*** — *Proved* by our whole conduct to have no such designs, and demonstrated to be holy, upright, and useful, by the whole train of our peregrinations, through which we can be readily traced from place to place; having preached openly, and done nothing in a corner.
***As dying*** — Through continual dangers, fatigues, and persecutions;
***And, behold, we live*** — We are preserved by the mighty power of God in the greatest dangers and deaths.
***As chastened*** — As though we were disobedient children;
***And not killed*** — Though we continue in the very same line of conduct that is supposed to bring on us those chastisements, and which, if it were criminal, would justly expose us to death for incorrigible obstinacy; but our preservation is a proof that we please God.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:10](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/10). ***As sorrowful*** — Considerate men supposing, from our persecuted state and laborious occupation, (often destitute of the necessaries of life; seldom enjoying its conveniences; and scarcely ever, its comforts,) that we must be the most miserable of all men.
***Yet alway rejoicing*** — Having the consolation of God's Spirit at all times, and a glorious prospect of a blessed immortality.
***As poor*** — Destitute of all worldly good and secular interest,
***Yet making many rich*** — By dispensing to them the *treasures of* *salvation*; making them *rich* in *faith*, and *heirs of the kingdom.*
The Gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, *betters the condition of the poor*. It makes them *sober*; so they *save* what before they *profusely* and *riotously* spent. It makes them *diligent*; and thus they *employ time* to useful purposes which they before squandered away. They therefore both *save* and *gain* by religion; and these must lead to an increase of property. Therefore they are *made rich*; at least in comparison with that sinful, profligate state in which they were before they received the truth of the Gospel.
***As having nothing*** — Being the most abject of the poor,
***And*****yet*****possessing all things.*** — That are really necessary to the preservation of our lives. For the wants under which we labour for a time are supplied again by a bountiful Providence. The man who possesses a *contented spirit* possesses *all things*; for he is satisfied with every dispensation of the providence of God; and "a contented mind is a continual feast."

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:11](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/11). ***O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you*** — I speak to you with the utmost *freedom* and *fluency*, because of my affection for you.
***Our heart is enlarged.*** — It is expanded to take you and all your interests in; and to keep you in the most affectionate remembrance.
The preceding verses contain a very fine specimen of a very powerful and commanding *eloquence*.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:12](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/12). ***Ye are not straitened in us*** — That is, Ye have not a *narrow* place in our affections: the metaphor here is taken from the case of a person pent up in a small or narrow place, where there is scarcely room to breathe.
***Ye are straitened in your own bowels.*** — I have not the same place in your affections which you have in mine. The *bowels* are used in Scripture to denote the most *tender affections*. [Matthew 9:36](../../../kjv/matthew/9/36); [Matthew 9:36](../../../kjv/matthew/9/36).

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:13](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/13). ***Now for a recompense in the same*** — That you may, in some sort, *repay me* for my affection towards you, *I speak to you* *as unto* my *children*, whom I have a right to command, *be ye also* *enlarged*-love me as I love you.

Verse 14. ***Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers*** — This is a military term: keep in your own *ranks*; do not leave the *Christian* community to join in that of the *heathens*. The verb ετεροζυγειν signifies to leave one's own rank, place, or order, and go into another; and here it must signify not only that they should not *associate* with the Gentiles in their idolatrous feasts, but that they should not *apostatize* from Christianity; and the questions which follow show that there was a sort of fellowship that some of the Christians had formed with the heathens which was both wicked and absurd, and if not speedily checked would infallibly lead to final apostasy.
Some apply this exhortation to pious persons *marrying* with those who are not *decidedly religious*, and *converted to God*. That the exhortation may be *thus* applied I grant; but it is certainly not the meaning of the apostle in this place. Nevertheless, common sense and true piety show the absurdity of two such persons pretending to walk together in a way in which they are not agreed. A very wise and very holy man has given his judgment on this point: "A man who is truly pious, marrying with an unconverted woman, will either draw back to perdition, or have a cross during life." The same may be said of a *pious woman* marrying an *unconverted man*. Such persons cannot say this petition of the Lord's prayer, *Lead us not into temptation*. They plunge into it of their own accord.
***For what fellowship***, c.] As *righteousness* cannot have communion with *unrighteousness*, and light cannot dwell with *darkness* so *Christ* can have no concord with *Belial*, nor can he that *believeth* have any with an *infidel*. All these points were self-evident; how then could they keep up the *profession* of Christianity, or pretend to be under its influence, while they *associated* with the *unrighteous*, had *communion* with *darkness,* *concord* with *Belial*, and *partook* with *infidels*?

Verse 16. ***What agreement hath the temple of God with idols*** — Nothing could appear more abominable to a Jew than an idol in the temple of God: here, then, could be no agreement; the worship of the two is wholly incompatible. An *idolater* never worships the true God; a *Christian* never worships an idol. If ye join in idolatrous rites, it is impossible that ye should be *Christians*.
***Ye are the temple of the living God*** — God intends to make the heart of every believer his own house.
***I will dwell in them, and walk in*****them**] The words are very emphatic: ενοικησωεναυτοις. *I will inhabit in them*. I will not be as a *wayfaring* man, who turns aside to tarry as for a *night*, but I will take up my *constant residence* with them; I will dwell *in* and *among* them.
***I will be their God*** — They shall have no other God, they shall have none besides me; and if they take me for their God, I will be to them all that an infinite, eternal, and self-sufficient Being can be to his intelligent offspring.
***They shall be my people.*** — If they take me for their GOD, their supreme and eternal GOOD, I will take them for my *people*; and instruct, enlighten, defend, provide for, support, and bless them, as if I had none else to care for in the creation.

Verse 17. ***Wherefore come out from among them*** — Is it not plain from this and the following verse that God would be their God only on the ground of *their taking him for such*, and that this depended on their being *separated* from the works and workers of iniquity? for God could not *inhabit in them* if they had concord with Belial, a portion with infidels; c. Those who will have the promises of God fulfilled to them must come under the *conditions* of these promises: if they are not *separate*-if they *touch the unclean* *thing*, God will not receive them and therefore will not be their God, nor shall they be his people.

Verse [2 Corinthians 6:18](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/6/18). ***Will be a Father unto you*** — I will act towards you as the most affectionate father can act towards his most tender and best beloved child.
***And ye shall be my sons and daughters*** — Ye shall all be of the *household* of God, the *family* of heaven; ye shall be *holy, happy*, and *continually safe*.
***Saith the Lord Almighty.*** — κυριος παντοκρατωρ The *Lord*, the *Governor of all things*.
Earthly fathers, however loving and affectionate, may fail to provide for their children, because every thing is not at *their* *disposal*; they may frequently lack both the *power* and the *means*, though to *will* may be present with them; but the Lord who *made* and who *governs all things* can never lack *will, power*, nor *means*. The promise is sure to the *children*; and the *children* are those who *take the Almighty for their God*. For the promise belongs to no soul that is not *separate* from sinful ways, works, and men; those who *touch the unclean thing*, i.e. who *do* what God *forbids*, and hold communion with unrighteousness, can never stand in the endearing relation of *children* to God Almighty: and this is most forcibly stated by God himself, in these verses, and in the beginning of the following chapter, the first verse of which should conclude this.
To the *Jews* the promises were originally made; they would not have God for their God, but *would* work iniquity. What was the consequence? God cast them off; and those who were *joined to* *iniquity* were *separated* from *him*. "Then said God, Call his name *Lo-ammi*; for *ye are not my people*, and *I will not be your God*." [Hosea 1:9](../../../kjv/hosea/1/9). The *Jews* were therefore cast off, and the *Gentiles* taken in their place; but even these, under the new covenant, are taken in expressly under the *same conditions* as the apostle here most fully states. Those who apply these words in any other way pervert their meaning, and sin against their souls.

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