2 Corinthians 6:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

NIV: in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

NASB: in beatings, in imprisonments, in mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

CSB: by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,

NLT: We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

KJV: In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

NKJV: in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

This verse begins building a list of evidence that Paul and his co-workers have operated with great integrity, sincerity, and purity of motive in preaching the gospel of Jesus. The implied question for the items listed in this verse is, "Why would we have gone through all of this if we had a self-serving motive for our ministry?"

Early believers, especially leaders like the apostles, endured beatings by outraged Jewish religious leaders for preaching that salvation could only be found in Christ alone and not in following the law. They spent time in Roman prisons. They were attacked by rioting mobs. They labored to the point of exhaustion both in the ministry and in the secular work they had to do to support themselves. They experienced sleepless nights and great hunger, either because of poverty or in fasting.

The list continues in the following verse with positive things Paul and his co-workers have engaged in during their time in ministry.

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 5/4/2024 8:39:00 AM