2 Corinthians 6:8
Verse
Context
Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;9as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
Sermons
Zac Poonen
F.B. MeyerSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
By honor and dishonor - 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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "Through glory and dishonor (disgrace)," namely, from those in authority, and accruing to us present. "By," or "through evil report and good report," from the multitude, and affecting us absent [BENGEL]. Regarded "as deceivers" by those who, not knowing (Co2 6:9), dishonor and give us an evil report; "as true," by those who "know" (Co2 6:9) us in the real "glory" of our ministry. In proportion as one has more or less of glory and good report, in that degree has he more or less of dishonor and evil report.
John Gill Bible Commentary
As unknown, and yet well known,.... Not unknown to Father, Son, and Spirit, or to one another, but to the world; and that not with respect to their outward estate, but their spiritual and eternal state; as that they were the chosen of God, the children of God, and born again; they knew not what a life they lived, or what they lived upon; and as they were unacquainted with their inward troubles, they were strangers to their spiritual joys here, and to what they shall partake of hereafter. Moreover, something more may be intended in this word "unknown"; as that they were not owned, esteemed, and approved of by them, but slighted, despised, hated, and persecuted: and yet well known; to God the Father, who loved them with an everlasting love, chose them in Christ, gave them to him, made a covenant with him on their account, and sent his Son to redeem them, which knowledge of them is special, eternal, affectionate, approbative, and attended with care of them; well known to Jesus Christ, who knows all that are his, specially, distinctly, perfectly, and that from everlasting, bears a strong affection for them, takes great care of them, indulges them with intimate communion with him, and openly owns and acknowledges them as his own; well known to the Spirit of God, who enlightened and quickened them, regenerated and sanctified them, wrought faith and every other grace in them, witnessed their adoption to them, led them into all truth, filled and furnished them with his gifts, and dwelt in them, and abode with them, as the seal and earnest of their future glory; and were well known to the saints, and one another: they loved each other, delighted in each other's company; they knew each other's experiences, joys, and sorrows, and, in some measure, their hearts, and even their spiritual and eternal estate. As dying, and behold we live. They were as dying men, having the seeds of mortality in them, being subject to diseases, which bring on death; and especially as they carried about with them the dying of the Lord Jesus, were continually exposed to death, and in danger of it, lived in the views of it, had the sentence of it in themselves, and were appointed to it. And "behold", to admiration "we live"; a natural life, which we have from God, depends upon hint, and is preserved by him amidst a thousand dangers and enemies to which it is exposed; and we live a spiritual life, a life of grace from Christ, a life of faith on him, and communion with him. As chastened and not killed; "chastened" by men, and chastened by God; not in a way of vindictive wrath, but in a fatherly manner; but "not killed", or put to a corporeal death by our persecutors, who have sought to take away our lives, but have not yet been suffered to do it: or by the Lord, by the means of afflictions, the messengers of death; these sometimes bring very near it, and God chastens by them, but does not as yet give over to death, because our time is not yet come, and our work not yet done.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:8-10 Paul’s character as an apostle was often attacked; he and his colleagues were even called imposters. Yet he was honest in spite of people’s attitudes. They must have thought that Paul was a nobody who could be safely ignored, a foolhardy person who ran unnecessary risks that made him as good as dead already. Paul rebuts each of their allegations with insight into spiritual reality.
2 Corinthians 6:8
Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;9as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Ambassadors for Christ - Part 2
By Zac Poonen1.8K56:01Evangelism1SA 12:22CO 1:42CO 5:162CO 6:42CO 6:82CO 11:26In this sermon, the speaker focuses on several key points from the book of 2 Corinthians. Firstly, he highlights how Paul commended himself as a servant of God in all situations, whether in endurance, affliction, or even when honored. The speaker emphasizes the importance of behaving as a servant of God in both suffering and success. Secondly, the speaker discusses how Paul recognized the fear of God and the accountability that comes with it. He emphasizes that believers will one day stand at the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for everything done in their bodies. Lastly, the speaker mentions the example of John Wesley, who had a strong sense of accountability for his time and money, and encourages the audience to cultivate the same sense of accountability in their own lives.
Our Daily Homily - 2 Corinthians
By F.B. Meyer0Strength in WeaknessComfort in Affliction2CO 1:42CO 2:152CO 3:182CO 4:182CO 5:182CO 6:82CO 7:12CO 8:72CO 9:102CO 12:10F.B. Meyer emphasizes the theme of comfort in affliction as he reflects on 2 Corinthians, highlighting how God comforts us in our tribulations so that we can extend that comfort to others. He encourages believers to view their trials as opportunities for growth and to keep a record of God's mercies during difficult times. Meyer illustrates the transformative power of suffering, suggesting that through our weaknesses, God's strength is made perfect. He also discusses the importance of living a life that reflects Christ, becoming a sweet aroma to God and others. Ultimately, he calls for a deep communion with the Holy Spirit, which enables believers to navigate life's challenges with grace and purpose.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
By honor and dishonor - 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.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Translate, "Through glory and dishonor (disgrace)," namely, from those in authority, and accruing to us present. "By," or "through evil report and good report," from the multitude, and affecting us absent [BENGEL]. Regarded "as deceivers" by those who, not knowing (Co2 6:9), dishonor and give us an evil report; "as true," by those who "know" (Co2 6:9) us in the real "glory" of our ministry. In proportion as one has more or less of glory and good report, in that degree has he more or less of dishonor and evil report.
John Gill Bible Commentary
As unknown, and yet well known,.... Not unknown to Father, Son, and Spirit, or to one another, but to the world; and that not with respect to their outward estate, but their spiritual and eternal state; as that they were the chosen of God, the children of God, and born again; they knew not what a life they lived, or what they lived upon; and as they were unacquainted with their inward troubles, they were strangers to their spiritual joys here, and to what they shall partake of hereafter. Moreover, something more may be intended in this word "unknown"; as that they were not owned, esteemed, and approved of by them, but slighted, despised, hated, and persecuted: and yet well known; to God the Father, who loved them with an everlasting love, chose them in Christ, gave them to him, made a covenant with him on their account, and sent his Son to redeem them, which knowledge of them is special, eternal, affectionate, approbative, and attended with care of them; well known to Jesus Christ, who knows all that are his, specially, distinctly, perfectly, and that from everlasting, bears a strong affection for them, takes great care of them, indulges them with intimate communion with him, and openly owns and acknowledges them as his own; well known to the Spirit of God, who enlightened and quickened them, regenerated and sanctified them, wrought faith and every other grace in them, witnessed their adoption to them, led them into all truth, filled and furnished them with his gifts, and dwelt in them, and abode with them, as the seal and earnest of their future glory; and were well known to the saints, and one another: they loved each other, delighted in each other's company; they knew each other's experiences, joys, and sorrows, and, in some measure, their hearts, and even their spiritual and eternal estate. As dying, and behold we live. They were as dying men, having the seeds of mortality in them, being subject to diseases, which bring on death; and especially as they carried about with them the dying of the Lord Jesus, were continually exposed to death, and in danger of it, lived in the views of it, had the sentence of it in themselves, and were appointed to it. And "behold", to admiration "we live"; a natural life, which we have from God, depends upon hint, and is preserved by him amidst a thousand dangers and enemies to which it is exposed; and we live a spiritual life, a life of grace from Christ, a life of faith on him, and communion with him. As chastened and not killed; "chastened" by men, and chastened by God; not in a way of vindictive wrath, but in a fatherly manner; but "not killed", or put to a corporeal death by our persecutors, who have sought to take away our lives, but have not yet been suffered to do it: or by the Lord, by the means of afflictions, the messengers of death; these sometimes bring very near it, and God chastens by them, but does not as yet give over to death, because our time is not yet come, and our work not yet done.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
6:8-10 Paul’s character as an apostle was often attacked; he and his colleagues were even called imposters. Yet he was honest in spite of people’s attitudes. They must have thought that Paul was a nobody who could be safely ignored, a foolhardy person who ran unnecessary risks that made him as good as dead already. Paul rebuts each of their allegations with insight into spiritual reality.