What does 2 Corinthians 6:4 mean?
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.
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.
This passage appeals to the Corinthians not to miss the day of salvation. Paul insists that he and those who work with him have done nothing to keep anyone from believing in Christ. He points to the evidence that he has been a true apostle and representative of Christ and asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him again. He commands them not to harness themselves to unbelievers since Christ can have nothing to do with Satan or darkness. God lives in them through the Holy Spirit, so they must separate from everything that is opposed to God.
