2 Corinthians 6

God’s Suffering Servants

6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Judaizers and other false teachers were following Paul from city to city, attempting to discredit Paul. They were also teaching the false gospel that one must believe on Jesus and keep the Mosaic Law. The Greek word for "vain" is κενός (kenos), meaning empty, foolish, worthless, ineffective, hollow, false, unreal, or amounting to nothing. The teachings of the Judaizers were false, worthless, ineffective, and it counted for nothing. Paul asked the Corinthians not to receive this type of teaching.

6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!

Paul quoted from Isaiah 49:8. In this chapter, Isaiah told stubborn Israel that salvation would not only be offered to the Jews, but to Gentiles as well. Paul urged the Corinthians not to reject this free grace and liberty that Christ offered by turning to Judaistic legalism. Many want to postpone salvation for "a more opportune time". There is no guarantee that one will even live another day, so the opportune time is now. Tomorrow may never come.

6:3 We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

Paul did not mind his personal character being attacked, but he would defend the truth of the gospel. He knew that as an ambassador, his message would be rejected. Some would call him insane and others would call him a fool. 

Dr. Harry Ironside gave some good insight on what to expect as an ambassador of Christ, "If you don’t shake hands with them, they feel you intended to slight them. If you do shake hands with them, you hurt their arthritis. If you stop to speak with them, you are interrupting them. But if you do not, you are a little snooty. If you write them a letter, they know you are after their money. If you do not write, then you are neglecting them. If you stop to visit them, you hinder them from their work and bother them, but if you do not visit them, it shows you have no interest in them."

6:4 But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,

The Judaizers brought letters of recommendation in order to introduce their false teaching. Paul brought great endurance that he had suffered from persecution, difficulties, and distressed. He had physical and emotional scars on his body as a result of his ambassadorship.

6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger,

Paul listed some of his personal hardships of being an ambassador for Christ. He was beaten by Jews and Gentiles. He was imprisoned for teaching the Word of God. He faced riots of men who wanted to kill him. His life was often placed in danger, as Jews pledged oaths to God in order to kill him. He experienced many sleepless nights. He often went to bed without food. This was the price of being an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,

An ambassador must be pure, keeping himself away from sin, and confessing 1 John 1:9 when he does sin. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us of all unrighteousness."

An ambassador must have knowledge of the Word of God. An ambassador must be patient when he is under attack. An ambassador must be led by the Holy Spirit. An ambassador must possess genuine love for Christ and to those to whom he is sent.

6:7 by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,

Paul listed some more qualifications of a good ambassador of Christ. He is to teach the truth from the Word of God. He must be led not by his own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is not to fight in the Satanic kingdom with human resources. He is to use the Word of God as a sword in his right hand and the shield of faith in his left hand. The helmet of salvation will protect his mind from the Satanic deceptions of this world.

6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true;

In verses 8-10, Paul listed a set of nine paradoxes which characterize a man of God. Paul was accused of dishonor, but he was actually a man that revealed the glory of God. He was slandered by his enemies, but praised by friends of Christ. The enemies of Paul called him an imposter, a false apostle, yet he was a true apostle ordained by God. 

6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;

Paul's opponents called him a nobody, but he was known by God. Paul was dying, yet he continued to live to continue his ambassadorship. Paul had been beaten many times, but the satanic world system was not able to execute him until his ministry was complete.

6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

It seemed that Paul lived a sad life, but he was always rejoicing. Paul had no material value, but we was rich in spiritual blessings. Paul had nothing in this life, yet he possessed everything in eternity, because he was true to his ambassadorship.

6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you.

Paul spoke the truth from his heart. He loved the Corinthians, even though some of them had done him harm.

6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us.

Paul loves the Corninthians unconditionally, but they do not return that same love to Paul. Many of the Corinthians loved Paul for his message, but many of them hated him just the same. Pastors who do not tickle one's ears are usually loved by a small majority of mature saints, but they are despised by the majority of immature saints.

6:13 Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts to us also.

Paul had opened his heart to the Corinthians. Now, he asked them to do the same. 

Unequal Partners

6:14 Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

This is an important verse that is often taken out of context. Just as a clean animal was not to be yoked with an unclean animal, neither is a believer to be yoked with an unbeliever. A believer should never marry an unbeliever, because he will have the devil as his father-in-law. A believer should never go into a permanent partnership with an unbeliever, because Christian ethics will be compromised. A believer should never join a heretical church, because he is identifying with their false doctrine. A pastor should never teach in a heretical denomination or a heretical seminary, because he is identifying with them. The people of the satanic world system will spend their eternity in the Lake of Fire. They are enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why would a mature believer want to socialize with an enemy of Christ who will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire?

 W6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever?

The Greek word for "Belial" is Βελίαρ (Beliar), meaning the name and character of Satan, stressing his utter unworthiness and deeply wicked character. Whenever a believer is yoked with an unbeliever, he is actually yoked with Satan, assisting in plowing the devil’s garden. A believer can only be yoked righteously with Christ.

These last two verses are not saying to have no fellowship with unbelievers. Believers are commanded to have fellowship with unbelievers and actually bring them the message of Christ. However, believers are not to socialize with those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. Hollywood, cults, and isms are filled with these types of low life people. These entertainers, politicians, athletes, and liberals of the satanic world system elevate their human opinions above the Word of God. They are low lives who promote sexual promiscuity, same-sex marriage, abortion, drugs, alcohol, occultism, materialism, and socialism (stealing from those who earn and giving to those who do not work). Why would a believer want to socialize, learn, and idolize from those who will spend their eternal life in the Lake of Fire?

6:16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Paul quoted and mixed several Old Testament passages to support his point. Believers are a living temple of God that houses the Holy Spirit. Idols are demons posing as false gods, being worshiped at temples made of temporary wood and stone. God does not work through wood and stone temples that glorify demons and false gods. He works through His living temple, which is the church.

6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,

Paul quoted partly from Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:41. these prophets were pleading with Israel to come out of the pagan idolatry of the surrounding Gentile nations. Personal separation involves not being unequally yoked (v. 14), not loving the world (1 John 2:15–17), not having fellowship with sinning brothers (1 Cor. 5:11), and positively, being more Christ-like. Jehovah Witnesses falsely teach that this verse is about God telling genuine believers to leave their local churches and attend the Jehovah Witness Watchtower churches.  

6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the All-Powerful Lord.

Redeemed believers are brought into a special relationship with God. God will become their Father and the believers will become God's sons and daughters.