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Scott's Reference Library
2 Corinthians 6:1 through 2
Corinthians 6:13 (NIV)
1As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
2For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be
discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in
great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings,
imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity,
understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in
the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good
report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown;
dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always
rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing
everything.
11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours
from us. 13As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts
also.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-10
The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of
salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel
the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these
offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor
where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to
neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God’s
servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so,
by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due
temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm
them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride;
and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in
themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a
Christian’s life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports,
is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve
ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received,
betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously
spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain
by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this,
when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the
gospel.
VERSES 11-18
It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word
unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution
their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal
effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead
of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be
unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it;
but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God’s
word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common
conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men
and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being
with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile
ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from
the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and
pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If
it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who
can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the
Almighty?