II CORINTHIANS 6:1-7:1

This chapter can be roughly outlined as follows:

    A. Admonition: Do not accept the grace of God in vain (6:1)

        B. Supporting Scripture (6:2a)

            C. Application (6:2b)

                D. Personal Testimony (6:3-13)

                    1. We have put no obstacle in anyone's way (6:3)

                        2. We have commended ourselves through endurance and righteousness: nine examples                         each (6:3-7)

                            3. in honor

                                4. and dishonor

                                4'. in ill repute

                            3'. and good repute

                        2'. We are treated as X and yet are Y: seven examples (6:9-10)

                    1'. We have spoken frankly to you (6:11-13)

    A'. Admonition: Do not be mismatched with unbelievers (6:14-16a)

        B'. Supporting Scriptures (6:16b-18)

            C'. Application (7:1)

6:1 There is an interpretative debate right at the start of the chapter. Bella explains that commentators are divided as to what the first phrase (lit. “as we work together”) refers to. Is it Paul and the Corinthians or Paul and God? NRSV combines both ideas to say, “As we work together with him.”

Why would it be in vain? Hillyer says, “either superficially or because false apostles had subsequently misled them into supposing that they themselves could contribute something towards their own salvation.”

6:2 See Isaiah 49:8. The context of Isaiah 49 is a description of the Suffering Servant of God, i.e. Christ. Balla says that Paul is using the typical pesher form of argument employed by rabbis. He quotes an OT passage and then immediately “adds an interpretation that is at the same time an application to the author's own day.”

6:3 “Paul was concerned more about defending his ministry than defending himself.” (Lowery)

“His intention is to remove all grounds of suspicion and criticism which have only made for strained relationships.” (Clines)

The Greek word for “obstacle” or “stumbling block” is a synonym for that word employed in I Corinthians 8:9.

6:8b-10 “These...are not paradoxes...but antitheses answering charges against Paul.” (Wan) In each pair of contrasts, the first is the earthly opinion of Paul while the second reflects the reality.

6:11 Barrett paraphrases it as “I have let my tongue run away with me,” i.e. “I have spoken to you in complete freedom.” On “frankly”: see II Corinthians 1:12 for “frankness.”

6:14 The Greek words translated as “mismatched” and “partnership” appear only here in the NT, although the idea for the first comes from Leviticus 19:19.

Fee: “Traditionally this text has been interpreted as forbidding marriages between a Christian and a non-Christian. However, the metaphor of a yoke is rarely used in antiquity to refer to marriage, and there is nothing whatever in the context that remotely allows marriage to be in view here.” However, he adds that one can probably extend the principle in view but “only because it is indeed a biblical principle that can be sustained apart from this single text.” Similarly, Link and Brown feel that “the whole context and argument of 2 Cor 6:14ff appears to look beyond mixed marriages to idolatry and defilement in general, although a mixed marriage could lead to such idolatry and defilement.”

6:15 The same contrast also is found in II Corinthians 4:3-6.

Satan (“accuser”) in II Corinthians 2:11; 11:14; and 12:17 is called “Beliar” in this verse; “god of this world” in 4:4; and “serpent” in 11:3. The name Beliar or Belial is also found in the Dead Sea scrolls and various other Jewish writings outside of the Bible.

6:16 “In the temple imagery of 2 Corinthians 6:16, which presupposes the presence of the Spirit in the life of the community from 1 Corinthians 3:16, Paul understands God to be present among his people.” (Fee)

6:16-18 The following OT scriptures are felt to be the basis of these verses, but accurate identification is not always possible in all cases:

II Corinthians 6         Old Testament Sources

v. 16b                         Lev. 26:11-12; Ezek. 37:27

v. 17                           Is. 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41; 22:20

v. 18                           II Sam. 7:8,14; Is. 43:6

“It is significant that Paul refers to God as the author of these proof texts three times (6:16a, 6:17, 6:18).” The phrase “as God said” only appears here in the NT to introduce an OT passage.

Bella: “Since all of these Old Testament references are direct verbal prophecies or are set in a direct verbal prophetic context, Paul sees these as having inaugurated fulfillment in the Corinthian community.”

7:1 The Greek word for “defilement” only occurs here in the NT.

Clines says, “By including himself with them, and calling them dear friends, lit. 'beloved' (a word of which he is not prodigal), he softens the severity of his warning.”

“'These promises' refer to God's assurances of His presence (6:16) and fellowship (6:17b-18) to those who obey Him.” (Lowery)