2 Corinthians 6

Big idea: The credentials Paul finally produces are not achievements. Twenty-eight items, and the first block is entirely things done TO him — beatings, imprisonments, riots, sleeplessness, hunger — followed by paradoxes that hold two verdicts at once: unknown and well known, dying and alive, having nothing and possessing everything. Then the letter opens its chest: our heart is enlarged, and the restriction is on your side.

Chapter 6's appeal for open hearts is picked up again at 7:2, with the warning about mismatched partnerships between them.

6:1–13 — Our heart is enlarged

The word 'NOW' is repeated because the appeal is about timing rather than argument — Isaiah's acceptable time is applied to the moment the letter is being read aloud. Then the catalogue, which functions as a credential list and is built almost entirely out of things that would ordinarily disqualify someone.

¹ Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, ⁴ but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, ⁵ in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, ⁶ in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, ⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, ⁹ as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed, ¹⁰ as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things. ¹¹ Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³ Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.

6:14–18 — Don’t be unequally yoked

A sharp turn, sharp enough that some readers have argued this paragraph was originally a fragment of another letter — the appeal for open hearts in 6:13 runs straight into 7:2 if you lift it out. Read where it stands, it is the necessary counterpart to that appeal: the same congregation that must open itself to Paul must not be open to everything.

¹⁴ Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. ¹⁸ I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).

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