Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does 2nd Corinthians Chapter 6 mean?

Paul is writing to people he cares deeply about. He helped to establish the church in Corinth and led many people there to faith in Christ. Now he seems concerned that some among them who have heard the clear message of the gospel from him have not come to full faith in Christ alone for their salvation. This may be based on continued association with idol worship, or false teachers among them distorting the gospel of Jesus and accusing Paul of being a false apostle.

This chapter appeals to those in Corinth not to receive God’s grace in vain, insisting that the day of salvation has come. That “day,” however, will not last forever. Eventually, Christ will return and the opportunity to receive God’s free gift will pass (2 Corinthians 6:1–2).

Paul insists that he and those who work with him have not done or said anything that would keep anyone from believing in Jesus. He commends their ministry to the Corinthians, giving them evidence to present to anyone who would accuse Paul of being false or having a hidden and self-serving agenda (2 Corinthians 6:3).

This evidence included everything Paul and his co-workers for the gospel have suffered in order to proclaim the message of Jesus. These afflictions include beatings, imprisonments, attacks by angry mobs, exhausting work, sleepless nights, and going hungry. Their character, though, has remained Christlike and God’s power has been clearly seen in and through them. No matter how they were treated, they have kept going, kept accomplishing God’s mission through them. Paul puts it plainly: Their sacrifice is bringing the riches of eternal life to many people. He and his team continue to rejoice in this (2 Corinthians 6:4–10).

In other words, Paul says, they have done nothing to cause the Corinthians to have anything against them. He and his friends have wide open hearts toward everyone in Corinth. He asks them to open their hearts to him, as well, as children toward a father (2 Corinthians 6:11–13).

Next, Paul commands them clearly not to be “unequally yoked” with—or “harnessed to”—unbelievers. He seems to be referring to contracted relationships that would bind a Christian to a non-Christian in some formal way. That would certainly include marriage, as well as serious business or personal ties. This doesn’t forbid believers from ever associating with unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:10), but from participating in relationships that would obligate them to unbelievers, perhaps especially in areas involving idol worship.

He asks a series of questions to show how absurd such relationships are. Light and darkness cannot fellowship together. Christ and Satan don’t work together. Everyone knows how terrible it would be for Jewish people to worship an idol in the Jewish temple. Christians are now God’s temple, Paul writes. This is true because the Holy Spirit lives in them. These temples, then, must never be used for anything that is opposed to God.

Paul references several Old Testament Scriptures to illustrate that this was true of God’s covenant relationship with Israel and is true of His covenant relationship with all who come to Him through faith in Christ. Because God lives in them, Christians must separate themselves from everything that does not please God. He is the believer’s Father (2 Corinthians 6:14–18).

Chapter Context
Second Corinthians 6 is set up by the message of God’s grace for sinners as spelled it out in the previous chapter. Paul begs the Corinthians not to receive it in vain. He declares that he and his team have done nothing to keep them from believing in Christ. Parallel to this, he commands the Corinthians not to be harnessed to unbelievers

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

The previous chapter ended with Paul begging his readers, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. The final verse made it abundantly clear that this does not happen through human effort. It is a gift of God’s grace. God made sinless Jesus to be sin for the sake of humanity. God fully punished that sin through Jesus’ death on the cross. Those who trust in Christ are given credit by God for Jesus’ righteousness. They literally take their place “in Christ” in God’s eyes.

Paul now appeals to the Corinthians to not receive God’s grace in vain. First, though, he describes himself and his co-workers as co-workers with God. Some hear this as a bold statement. How can anyone be God’s co-worker? It can only happen by God’s appointment. Paul has described himself and his team as “ambassadors for Christ” with God making his appeal to humanity through them (2 Corinthians 5:20). In this way, they work together with God as His representatives.

This raises the question of how anyone could receive God’s grace “in vain.” “In vain” means without purpose or without result. In this context, Paul is referring to the way the Corinthians respond to this amazing message. It’s likely that some in Corinth believe themselves to be receiving God’s grace when they are not. That could only be because they are not putting their faith in Christ in order to be forgiven of sin and be declared righteous by God. A person is not truly “in Christ” if they are not believing the true gospel.

False teachers had moved in among the Corinthians. It’s possible these are Judaizers: those teaching that Christians must also follow the law in order to be truly saved. A person who trusts his own works to save him is not trusting Christ. That would be a false gospel (2 Corinthians 11:4).

It’s also possible that Paul has in mind some among the Corinthians who continued to worship idols while participating in the Christian church. Again, such people would not be trusting in Christ if they believed they needed idols to provide for them, as well. They would be attempting to receive God’s grace, but doing so in vain.

Context Summary
Second Corinthians 6:1–13 contains Paul commendation of himself and his co-workers to the Corinthians. He offers evidence that they have not been false apostles. They have faithfully represented Christ through every kind of suffering and God’s power has been obvious in and through them. He declares that they have been faultless and urges the Corinthians not to miss the day of God’s salvation through faith in Christ. He states warmly that his heart remains wide open to the church in Corinth and asks them to open their hearts to him again.

Verse 2. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Paul has warned those in Corinth not to receive God’s grace in vain. This refers to how they respond to hearing the message, not a suggestion that God’s grace cannot save them. In other words, they are cautioned to accept the gospel of reconciliation with God through faith in Christ alone and nothing else. It’s possible some in Corinth were being influenced by false teachers. They were trapped in counterfeit versions of the gospel that may have included legalism under the Old Testament law, or continuing to worship idols.

Paul uses a quote from Isaiah 49:8 to remind the Corinthians that this invitation to be reconciled to God through Christ is a limited time offer. God told Isaiah that He had heard the prophet in a favorable time and helped him in a day of salvation.

Paul insists that for those who would be heard and helped by God through faith in Christ, now is the favorable time and the day of salvation. God never speaks to someone to tell them to be saved “someday.” He does not call on people to delay, but to turn to Christ right now.

Not every time or every day will be open for salvation. Mostly, that’s because nobody knows how many days they have left in life (James 4:14). Eventually, time runs out and eternity begins. Paul may also have in mind the return of Christ and the day of judgment (1 Thessalonians 5:2). When the end comes—by death or apocalypse—it will be too late to be reconciled to God. Paul does not want his readers to hesitate to put their full faith in Christ for salvation.

Verse 3. We put no obstacle in anyone ‘s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

Scripture implored the Corinthians to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ, to take advantage of the “day of salvation.” Now Paul begins once more to defend and commend the integrity of his own ministry to the Corinthians.

He states that he and his co-workers have placed no obstacle in the way of anyone who would come to faith in Christ. He insists that nobody could find any fault with their ministry. By “fault,” Paul means a lack of integrity or presence of scandal that might cause a potential believer to question whether the message of the gospel could be trusted. While no person is perfect, it’s reasonable for people to be suspicious of someone who preaches morality but lives in sin; Paul’s life provides no such room for criticism.

Paul insists that he and his co-workers have cleared the path to faith in Christ by remaining above reproach in their ministry. Nobody could ever point to them as a legitimate reason anyone may have missed the grace of God through faith in Christ.

Verse 4. but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

Paul is demonstrating to the Corinthians that his gospel-preaching ministry has always been commendable. He hopes they will be convinced that he and his co-workers have always acted in integrity and in sincerity as they have represented Christ. He also wants to give those in Corinth who know him a way to defend him and his co-workers against the attacks of others.

First, Paul and his co-workers are servants of God. They do not serve themselves. The reason they operate with integrity in all things is because their first allegiance and responsibility are to God, not those they serve on His behalf.

Paul begins to list evidences of their integrity. The implied question is, “Why would we go through all of this if our motives weren’t pure?” Paul states that he and his team have showed great endurance, meaning they have not given up or turned back in the face of suffering. That suffering has included afflictions, hardships, and calamities. These words express, generally, that Paul’s ministry has required him to endure great difficulties. He is more specific about those difficulties in the following verses.

Verse 5. beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

This verse begins building a list of evidence that Paul and his co-workers have operated with great integrity, sincerity, and purity of motive in preaching the gospel of Jesus. The implied question for the items listed in this verse is, “Why would we have gone through all of this if we had a self-serving motive for our ministry?”

Early believers, especially leaders like the apostles, endured beatings by outraged Jewish religious leaders for preaching that salvation could only be found in Christ alone and not in following the law. They spent time in Roman prisons. They were attacked by rioting mobs. They labored to the point of exhaustion both in the ministry and in the secular work they had to do to support themselves. They experienced sleepless nights and great hunger, either because of poverty or in fasting.

The list continues in the following verse with positive things Paul and his co-workers have engaged in during their time in ministry.

Verse 6. by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

This continues to list evidences that Paul’s ministry, as well as that of his co-workers in preaching the gospel of Jesus, has been carried out with integrity. He is showing that, despite attacks and accusations from others, they have been above reproach.

He has listed in the previous two verses the negative things they have endured for the sake of their ministry. Now he begins to list positive qualities they have shown in the face of those circumstances. He starts with purity, meaning that they have no agenda other than preaching the good news about Jesus. They are not double-minded or divided in their purpose.

They operate out of knowledge—or understanding—of what is true as they present the gospel. Integrity is worth little in a messenger if the message is wrong. Paul’s message was built on right understanding of the truth.

They have demonstrated both patience and kindness, even in response to persecution. They acted with holiness, operating in the power of God’s Spirit within them.

Finally, Paul insists that the love they have shown those in Corinth and elsewhere has always been genuine. Even his corrections and rebukes of them have been delivered out of his love for them. Paul had previously emphasized Christlike love to them in 1 Corinthians 13.

Verse 7. by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

Paul continues to list evidences that he and his associates in ministry had operated with integrity. He is commending their ministry to the Corinthians to defend himself from attacks and accusations of critics. He has also provided the Corinthians with a way to defend him to such critics.

Paul adds here that he and his co-workers have always spoken truthfully. They have never lied in order to accomplish more in their ministry. In fact, they have spoken the truth even when it has been hurtful or when they risked turning people against them. Those who heard Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians would know this well.

They have also operated in the power of God. Many in Corinth would likely remember how God displayed His power among them through Paul. He wants to remind his readers that he does more than just suffer for Christ’s sake. He also displays God’s awesome power in his ministry.

This team of evangelists have even exercised weapons of God’s righteousness “for the right hand and for the left.” Scholars debate exactly what Paul means by this. In Ephesians 6:11–17, he describes spiritual armor that a Christian may take up against spiritual enemies. This includes the shield of faith, typically held in the left hand, and the sword of the Spirit, typically held in the right hand. Paul does not merely endure spiritual attacks; he fights back with God’s power.

Verse 8. through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;

This passage provides a long list of evidences for the integrity of Paul’s ministry. He has listed terrible things endured by himself and his co-workers for Christ’s sake. He has listed positive qualities they have shown and evidence of God’s power through them.

Now he returns to describing how they have been treated in their ministry. He wants his readers to see that they have kept going even through these things. They have experienced both honor and dishonor in representing Christ. They have been both slandered and praised. Whatever Paul’s detractors in Corinth were saying about him had likely been said before. Paul did not live for the praise of other people, but he wanted his readers to know that he received it for his work in the ministry, along with insults and lies.

In fact, Paul adds that they had been treated as impostors. It’s possible that this is what was happening in Corinth, with some suggesting Paul and his team were false apostles. Paul addressed those accusations specifically in 2 Corinthians 3:1–3, asking the Corinthians to look at their own conversions to faith in Christ to remember that his work as an apostle among them was “true.”

Verse 9. as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;

Paul continues to list all he and his co-workers for the gospel of Jesus have endured in order to carry out their mission. He has also itemized their positive responses to suffering, along with evidence of God’s power in and through them. He is commending himself in this way to counter the accusations of some in Corinth who were apparently accusing him of falsehood.

Now he adds that he and his co-workers have been treated as if they were unknown. Paul likely did not mean that people were not aware of him. Certainly those he had ministered to and those who opposed him knew who Paul was. He likely means that he has not been rightly acknowledged as Christ’s representative and apostle. He counters that by insisting that he and his co-workers are well known. This was true of all who had believed his message and put their trust in Christ. Paul and his fellow workers were also, of course, known by God. That mattered most of all to him (2 Timothy 2:19).

Paul adds that he and his co-workers for Christ have been treated as if they are dying, though they live, and punished or beaten, though they are not killed. Paul regularly lived on the edge of death. He began this letter by describing a recent event that brought them very close to death (2 Corinthians 1:8–9). Paul also will go on to describe being beaten for proclaiming Christ (2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:23–25). Still, he has endured to this point. He offers this, as well, as evidence that God is with him in his ministry.

Verse 10. as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

The verses in this section list reasons the Corinthians can offer others to show that Paul’s ministry as an apostle has been true. He and his co-workers for Christ have always acted with integrity, even in the face of suffering great attacks and hardship. They are committed to declaring the good news about Jesus to the world.

Now he adds that they have been treated as if they are sorrowful, poor, and have nothing. In truth, Paul insists that they are always rejoicing, that they have made many rich, and that they possess everything. These words do not deny the reality of earthly circumstances. He has indeed experienced great sorrow in his work for Christ on several occasions (2 Corinthians 2:1–3; Romans 9:2; Philippians 2:27). He has certainly lived in poverty as a travelling missionary (1 Corinthians 4:11). Still, Paul describes how viewing his life and work from spiritual perspective points to greater truth.

Paul and his co-workers continually chose to rejoice even in the moments of their greatest suffering. Acts 16:23–25 describes a moment when he and Silas were singing hymns to God late at night after being thoroughly beaten and thrown into jail with their feet locked into stocks. Paul taught that all believers should see their lives from an eternal perspective and continue to rejoice (Philippians 4:4).

In addition, the gospel that Paul preached gave those who believed in Christ access to the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). In this way, he and his team made many believers enormously and eternally wealthy. Finally, as is the case for all Christians, Paul understood that all things were theirs in Christ Jesus. He said exactly this to the Corinthians in his earlier letter to them (1 Corinthians 3:21–23).

Paul’s ability to see his life as an eternal experience turned all his losses into enormous advantages. The suffering was momentary. The victory would be forever.

Verse 11. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

Paul expresses great emotion and affection in this and the following verses. He acknowledges that he has spoken freely to them. In other words, he has not held anything back in order to spare their feelings. As he has made clear, the stakes are too high to be more concerned with gentleness than with truth. Any among them who do not trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins are in danger of missing the grace of God (2 Corinthians 6:1).

Paul has also spoken freely in defense of his own integrity and authority as an apostle, as well as the integrity of all who minister with them. He has been very clear that there is nothing that he and his co-workers for Christ have done that can legitimately be described as standing in the way of any person trusting in Christ.

Still, despite any conflict with the Christians in Corinth, Paul and his associates’ hearts are wide open. As described here, their affection for the Corinthians is as full and deep as it has ever been. In short, Paul loves them as much as he ever has. The fact that he calls them by name, Corinthians, may be evidence of his great affection for them.

Verse 12. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.

In the previous verse, Paul declared that despite any conflict between him and the Corinthians—and the fact that he has spoken very frankly—his heart remains wide open to them. He has not lost any of his affection for them.

Now he writes that the same is not true of their feelings for him and his co-workers for Christ. They are restricted in their affections for Paul and the other ministers or the gospel. Paul insists such a decline is not coming from him and his associates. It is coming from the Corinthians. They have reduced their affection, likely based on the misinformation campaign of the false apostles or others among them.

Or, perhaps, some of the Corinthians simply resented Paul’s corrections and rebukes. They might have been bitter over being challenged to turn back to the right belief and practice. The next chapter will show that at least some still long for Paul, value his ministry, and recognize his authority.

Verse 13. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Paul has written that his heart, and the heart of his fellow workers for Christ, is wide open to the Corinthians. He means they have as much love and affection for the Christians in Corinth as they have ever had. This is regardless of any conflict between them or how freely he has written to them to clear up any disagreements.

The same is not true of the Corinthians, Paul has said. They have restricted their hearts toward him and his ministry partners. Either in resentment for correcting their spiritual errors, or because of the false teaching of some among them, at least some Corinthians had lost at least some of their love for Paul.

Paul now urges them to widen, or fully open, their hearts to him, as well. Paul says he speaks as to children, likely meaning he considers the Corinthians his spiritual children (1 Corinthians 4:14–15; 2 Corinthians 12:14–15). He wants to have a close, honest, and loving relationship with them as a good father does with his kids.

Verse 14. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Paul has just urged the Corinthians to open their hearts to him again. Now he turns to a direct command: that believers in Christ not be yoked with unbelievers. The imagery of the “yoke” brings to mind the rigid harness used to keep livestock locked together and pulling in a consistent direction. The Old Testament used a form of the word to forbid mating cattle of different species (Leviticus 19:19). The Law also forbids harnessing together an ox and a donkey to plow a field (Deuteronomy 22:10).

The point of this phrase will soon become clear. Those in Christ are something other than those who are not in Christ. They are not the same—spiritually—and should not be locked together into any kind of binding relationship. Paul begins to ask a series of questions to show the absurdity of a believer in Jesus being “unequally yoked” with an unbeliever.

Paul asks: what cooperation can there be between virtue and wickedness? Those in Christ have “become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Those outside of Christ continue in their status as unrepentant, lawless sinners. The two cannot—must not—be joined together. To do so makes as little sense as trying to join light and darkness in fellowship. It can’t be done. As soon as the light arrives, the darkness must vanish.

It’s essential to realize Paul is not saying believers should never associate with unbelievers, at all (1 Corinthians 5:9–10). Believers should continue to live and function in the world, which includes contact with unbelievers (1 Corinthians 10:25–26). He has written to the Corinthians previously, though, not to sue each other in pagan courts of law (1 Corinthians 6:1–11), not to join themselves sexually to temple prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6:12–20), and not marry unbelievers (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Rather, Scripture’s teaching here is that Christians must not enter into binding, partnering agreements with non-Christians.

Context Summary
Second Corinthians 6:14—7:1 begins with Paul’s command to the Corinthians not to be ”unequally yoked” with unbelievers. Light and darkness cannot be in fellowship. Christ and Satan cannot work together. Christians are God’s temples on earth since His Spirit lives in them. That’s why they must separate themselves from any kind of formal, binding relationship with unbelievers. Paul references several Old Testament Scriptures to show that believers in Jesus must separate themselves from being ”yoked” to unbelievers since God is their Father and lives among them.

Verse 15. What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

Verses in this segment pose a series of questions to illustrate the reason behind the command that believers must not become “yoked” or harnessed to non-Christians. In the previous verse, Paul asked what fellowship light could have with darkness. The answer, of course, is that the two cannot co-exist. Once the light arrives, the darkness is gone.

Now Paul evokes the imagery of kingdoms or nations: asking what harmony there could ever be between Christ and Belial. Belial is another name for Satan, used only here in the Bible. The obvious answer is that Christ and Satan could never form a mutually beneficial agreement. They stand opposed to each other. More accurately, Belial the deceiver stands opposed to Christ, who is the Truth. When Christ arrives, all that is false must depart.

The question at hand, then, is how could a Christ-follower, a Christian, ever be united in any meaningful way with someone who is not a Christian? By definition, unbelievers are still under the authority of the god of this age who has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). How could a believer and unbeliever ever pull together in a harness in the same direction? One would have to turn away from his or her appointed course.

Paul asks, as well, about the portion that will be given to believers and unbelievers. Believers share in all the unsearchable riches that belong to God (Ephesians 3:8). Unbelievers fall far short of receiving any of God’s glory because they remain unforgiven for their sins (Romans 3:23). With such vastly different eternal destinies, how could a believer and unbeliever walk together in the same direction as required by the harness of a binding relationship?

Verse 16. What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,and I will be their God,and they shall be my people.

Paul has been asking a series of questions to illustrate how absurd it is for a believer in Jesus to be “yoked” or harnessed to an unbeliever in a binding relationship. He has asked how there can be a partnership between righteousness and lawlessness; how there can be fellowship between light and darkness; how there can be an accord between Christ and Satan; and what portion of eternal glory a Christian could ever share with a non-Christian.

Now he asks one final question as a transition into his main point in this passage: What agreement can God’s temple have with idols? The question creates a picture of worshiping a false idol in the Jewish temple. Such a thing would be the ultimate betrayal of God. Those who knew the law of Moses would immediately declare such a person as being worthy of death under the laws of the nation of Israel.

Paul quickly clarifies, though, that he is not talking about the Jewish temple. Those who are in Christ—true Christian believers—are now God’s temple on earth. His Spirit occupies every believer in Jesus. With that understanding, Paul’s meaning is clear. Any believer who participates in the worship of an idol is guilty of betraying God in the same way as a Jewish person worshiping an idol in the Jewish temple.

Paul next references several Old Testament passages to make his point even more clear. He begins by quoting from a mix of Leviticus 26:12 and Exodus 29:45. God declared that He would live among the people of Israel. This was accomplished in the ark of the covenant and in the temple. He would walk among them. He would be Israel’s God, and they would be His people. Paul is demonstrating that the same is true of all who come to God through faith in Christ. Christians are the people of God. He dwells among them now in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 17. Therefore go out from their midst,and be separate from them, says the Lord,and touch no unclean thing;then I will welcome you,

In 2 Corinthians 6:14—7:1, Paul is calling Christians to be separate from the world around them. More specifically, he is commanding the Corinthians to separate themselves from any connection with the worship of idols.

He showed in the previous verse a Christian connected to idol worship is equivalent to Jewish person under the Old Covenant worshiping an idol in the temple. This is because Christians themselves have become God’s temples on earth, occupied by His Holy Spirit.

Paul is quoting from a collection of Old Testament passages to make this case. This verse is put together from Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:41. God freed the Israelites from slavery to other nations and told them to separate from the peoples around them and to maintain their purity by not even touching forbidden things. Then the Lord would welcome them.

God calls Christians to live in freedom from sin and the law, and to lead holy lives. The difference is that God has already welcomed believers in Christ. We are His people with a permanent place with Christ in eternity. Paul described in his letter to Titus what God has done for us in Christ and how we should live in response: “Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13–14).

Verse 18. and I will be a father to you,and you shall be sons and daughters to me,says the Lord Almighty.”

Paul is quoting from a collection of verses in the Old Testament Scriptures to make the connection between God’s relationship with and expectations for His people Israel under the Old Covenant and all who are His through Christ under the new covenant.

God had redeemed Israel from slavery and commanded the Israelites to live separate from other nations. That meant keeping themselves pure from sin, including the worship of other nations’ gods. God has redeemed those who are in Christ from slavery to the law and to their own sinfulness. Now Paul is urging believers to separate themselves from any connections to the worship of idols or ongoing participation in sin.

Paul references Isaiah 43:6 to finally establish that a believer’s relationship with God through faith in Christ is that of a child to a Father. God calls Christians His sons and daughters. His commands to separate from the worship of idols and ongoing sin is not about religious rule following for its own sake. It is about being in a loyal and loving relationship with our Father, who is God.

End of Chapter 6.

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