2 Corinthians 6:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: We put no obstacle in anyone 's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

NIV: We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

NASB: giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

CSB: We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

NLT: We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

KJV: Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

NKJV: We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

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.

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.

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. This leads into a passionate discussion of affliction and comfort in chapter 7.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.

Accessed 12/18/2024 8:25:13 AM