2 Corinthians
Chapter 6
The Apostolic Ministry
As God’s helpers, we ask you: don’t let it be in vain that you received this grace from God.
Scripture says:
At the favorable time I listened to you,
on the day of salvation, I helped you.
This is the favorable time; this is the day of salvation.
We are careful not to give anyone a reason to stumble or criticize our mission.
Instead, we demonstrate that we are faithful servants of God through our endurance in numerous trials—hardships, afflictions,
floggings, imprisonment, riots, exhaustion, sleepless nights, and days without food.
People can see in our upright life—knowledge, patience, kindness, the work of the Holy Spirit, sincere love,
words of truth, and God’s power. So, we fight with the weapons of justice, both to attack and to defend.
Sometimes we are honored, and other times insulted; we receive both criticism and praise. We are called liars, even though we speak the truth;
seen as unknown, even though we are well known; considered dead, yet we still live. Punishments come upon us, but we have not yet been put to death.
We seem to be suffering, yet we are always joyful; we look poor, but we enrich many; we have nothing, but we possess everything!
Corinthians! I have spoken to you honestly; our heart is open wide.
We do not restrict you, but you are restricted in your own affections.
In return—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Temple of God
Do not make unsuitable covenants with those who do not believe: can justice walk with wickedness? Or can light coexist with darkness,
and can there be harmony between Christ and Satan? What kind of union could there be between someone who believes and someone who does not?
God’s temple must have no room for idols, and we are the temple of the living God. As Scripture says:
I will dwell and live in their midst,
I will be their God
and they shall be my people.
Therefore: Come out from their midst
and separate from them, says the Lord.
Do not touch anything unclean
and I will be gracious to you.
I will be a father to you,
that you may become
my sons and daughters,
says the all-powerful God.”
Commentaries
The Apostolic Ministry.
Paul once again calls on his beloved community to convert, doing so as God’s partner in this ministry of reconciliation. He does not speak in vague terms; the context of his new encouragement is always the same: if the Corinthians reject him as an apostle, they are rejecting not only him but also the Gospel he proclaims. Therefore, the Apostle’s persistent defense of his missionary conduct is necessary. It is striking how much importance Paul places on the ‘messenger’ identifying with the ‘message.’ He is simply imitating his Lord, ‘the faithful witness’ (Rev 1:5), whose very person was ‘the Gospel.’ Thus, rather than defending his ministry, Paul offers in these verses a portrait of what a servant of the Gospel should be, or better yet, he shows us the Gospel in action. Paul concludes by addressing his beloved Corinthians with a heartfelt request: that they open their hearts to him, to the Gospel he preaches, and to the Love he has for them.
Temple of God.
Paul suddenly interrupts his ongoing discussion. If newly converted Christians stay too close to pagans, they risk reverting to pagan practices. Paul urges them, quickly but strongly, to distance themselves, separate from, and distinguish themselves from the pagan society around them. Through the series of rhetorical questions he asks, emerges the powerful affirmation of the community as the temple of God.