2 Corinthians Chapter 6

INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

CORINTH: RICH GREEK CITY/STATE

(Acts 18:1 [KJV])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;

(Acts 18:8 [KJV])
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

(Acts 19:1,2 [KJV])
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

(2 Corinthians 1:1,2 [KJV])
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy [our] brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(2 Corinthians 1:23 [KJV])
Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

(2 Corinthians 6:11 [KJV])
O [ye] Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

(2 Timothy 4:20 [KJV])
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

Lots of good, fresh water
Lots of good, arable soil
Lots of good clay for ceramics, pottery, etc., hence "Corinthian Pottery"
Shops, fountains, carved stone temples to the Greek gods, porticos, metal workshops abounded
As a part of a major shipping lane, Corinth has four ports, on the Gulf of Corinth, between two seas
A temple to Apollo was there
Another temple was one to Aphrodite, an acropolis known as Acrocorinth, that supplied prostitutes for the seafaring men, which made it a rich city
Perusing the two letters Paul wrote to them, it is obvious that they were apostate and backslidden.

(2 Corinthians 6:1 [KJV])
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

As stewards, it is vanity to just receive Christ and live out our lives ignoring the call to share Christ with others
We receive the grace, the free gift of salvation; we do not work to get it nor do we do anything to keep it, as a free gift is not free if it is taken back, it was a loan
This is what makes us workers, the free reception of the gift of grace

(2 Corinthians 6:2 [KJV])
(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.)

To "succour" means to help, relieve, assist in times of trouble, help deliver
This is a quote from Isaiah 49:8, which is speaking to Israel, the world (from far off), the isles, etc. (Isaiah 49:1) and to Israel, verses following
God has His Hand out waiting for us to take it and get helped up into Heaven, through His Son Jesus Christ
If we do not take that Divine Hand, we do not go, as we cannot pull ourselves out of sin. If we do not take that Hand, we then have no one to blame but ourselves

(Isaiah 49:8 [KJV])
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

SUC'COR, v.t. [L. succurro; sub and curro, to run.]
Literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; as, to succor a besieged city; to succor prisoners. He is able to succor them that are tempted. Heb 2.

SUC'COR, n. Aid; help; assistance; particularly, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want or distress. My father Flying for succor to his servant Banister--

The person or thing that brings relief.
The city when pressed received succors from an unexpected quarter.
The mighty succor which made glad the foe.

(2 Corinthians 6:3 [KJV])
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

This by its context means to not deliberately do anything that causes offense, not do nothing that people would take any offense over, since there are always people who get offended, especially many unbelievers when they hear of Jesus Christ
Basically, be nice to people, as the gospel is already offensive
The context further demands that we speak the truth to people, as "speak the lie in love" is not love

(2 Corinthians 6:4 [KJV])
But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Preaching the Gospel is enough to make people go mad at us alone; we do not need to add arrogance
from that, our patience will show, our afflictions will reveal the inner man, our handling of our needs and the needs of others in charity, how we handle distress will be revealed
We need not approval from men, but we should avoid deliberate disapproval as well

(2 Corinthians 6:5 [KJV])
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

The first century Christians experienced and the last century Christians (us) are experiencing worldwide and will experience here soon torture, martyrdom, imprisonments, open air crucifixions, riots, labor camps, mass starvations, etc.
Watchings are merely sleep deprivations given to prisoners to extract information or to make one recant their faith

WATCHING, n. Wakefulness; inability to sleep.

(2 Corinthians 6:6 [KJV])
By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Qualities of us when we are led by the Spirit of God
This knowledge is the knowledge of God, not just knowledge for the sake of knowledge
Long suffering is simply suffering long, which brings patience
Love unfeigned is true love, not faking it

(2 Corinthians 6:7 [KJV])
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

That word of truth is the gospel message, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God
That Word has power, double edged sword, sharp as a razor power to expose our innards, our very soul to us

(Psalms 119:43 [KJV])
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

(Ephesians 1:13 [KJV])
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

(2 Timothy 2:15 [KJV])
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(James 1:18 [KJV])
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

(Hebrews 4:12 [KJV])
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(2 Corinthians 6:8 [KJV])
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

Opposite effects on us, yet the same stable selves, showing the world that, no matter the waves, that ship stay upright, because the kel is the Word of God, the Spirit of God
We cannot do this on our own, no matter how tough we think we are

(2 Corinthians 6:9 [KJV])
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

Persecution in the form of insults can result in "No one believes in nor needs to know about your JESUS! PLEASE!!"
If that were the case, the world would not hate Him and therefore hate us, yet there they are, daily, hating us
We are unknown on earth, famed to God, Who only matters, death not holding us from HEaven, but being a promotion, killing us, but unable to kill us spiritually, in our spirits and souls, just the body

(Matthew 10:28 [KJV])
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

(Luke 12:5 [KJV])
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

(Jeremiah 1:8 [KJV])
Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

(Psalms 118:6 [KJV])
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

(2 Corinthians 6:10 [KJV])
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

We experience sorrow during tragedy, loss, mourning, but we can have the joy of the LORD. It does not negate the problem, but helps us get through it and heal
It is our mindset, not our state, not our condition, which gives us peace, joy, for it is the object of faith, that is God, Who will
True riches of this world are no money, but salvation for eternity, which makes us rich, possessing all things in a future promise, unbroken by the Promise Maker Himself
The riches of this world will fade away, but not the eternal ones waiting for us

(Matthew 6:19-20 [KJV])
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

(2 Corinthians 6:11-12 [KJV])
O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

Whichever definition below you pick, it fits, it suits their relationship, but the context of this very verse, and the next reveals that it has to be their hearts were shrunken, withdrawn, distant, cold towards others in Corinth, since Paul says their heart (Paul and his companions) is enlarged toward them
Paul gave them freedom in Christ
Paul did not try to confine them within a set of laws, as he was about grace, not keeping the law
Paul was not there to give them tension
Paul was not there to take their money who had little, and make them poor of things in this life

STRAITEN, v.t. STRAITEN, v.t.

To make narrow.
In narrow circuit, straitend by a foe.
To contract; to confine; as, to straiten the British commerce.
To make tense or tight; as, to straiten a cord.
To distress; to perplex; to press with poverty or other necessity; as, a man straitened in his circumstances.
To press by want of sufficient room.
Waters when straitened, as at the falls of bridges, give a roaring noise.

(2 Corinthians 6:13 [KJV])
Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

Since he was not doing that to them, he anted them not to do that to others, to anyone there
What he is saying is, "Don't let us or the Law or anyone or anyone els hold you back"

ENL`ARGED, pp. Increased in bulk; extended in dimension; expanded; dilated; augmented; released from confinement or straits.

(2 Corinthians 6:14 [KJV])
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Marrying an unbeliever restrains you
This is taken from the liter yoking of oxen to plow
Apply that to marriage and you will see what will happen, as the unbeliever will nearly always bring down the believer spiritually, rarely the other way around, and that will destroy the faith of the believer, and it is very rare for the unbeliever to get saved by being married to someone who is saved, and causes tension

OBJECT LESSON/ILLUSTRATION

When in Sturbridge Village, a museum/park village of the 1800s, in Sturbridge, MA years ago, there was a person walking oxen. We thought of it as a good object lesson. We asked this man about yoking them together, in poundage. "How close in weight do they have to be?" The answer was, "No more than ten percent apart. For instance, if you have one that is about a ton, the one you yoke together must be no more than two hundred pounds difference, up or down." We asked, "What happens if they are not that close and, say, four hundred pounds apart?" The answer was, "Both will die, because one will pull faster, one slower, and the yoke will turn at an angle, strangling both over time."

(2 Corinthians 6:15 [KJV])
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

The answer, implied and literally throughout Scripture is, "NO CONCORD!"
We are exact opposites, said throughout Scripture, cover to cover
The world and unbelievers, ignorantly or not, are against God, which is undeniable
They will take down the faith of an unbeliever, they will fight you against how to raise children, argue with you, fight with you, create strife, stress, pain, suffering with you-AND THEN PERHAPS LEAVE YOU ONE DAY, while you have done all you can to bring God into the home

(2 Corinthians 6:16 [KJV])
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Since we are temples of the Holy Ghost, marrying an unbeliever is here compared to bringing an idol into the temple, because two, saith he, will be one flesh

(1 Corinthians 3:16-17 [KJV])
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

(Hebrews 3:6 [KJV])
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

(Genesis 2:24 [KJV])
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

(Matthew 19:5 [KJV])
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

(Matthew 19:6 [KJV])
Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

(Mark 10:8 [KJV])
And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

(Ephesians 5:31 [KJV])
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

(2 Corinthians 6:17-18 [KJV])
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

This is the lowdown, in simplest words, just to be clear-DO NOT MARRY UNBELEIVERS!

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2 Corinthians 7