2 Corinthians 6:4-17

6:4 But as God’s servants,¹ we have commended ourselves in every way,² with great endurance, in persecutions,³ in difficulties, in distresses, 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots,⁴ in troubles,⁵ in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit,⁶ by genuine⁷ love, 6:7 by truthful⁸ teaching,⁹ by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,¹⁰ 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors,¹¹ and yet true; 6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged¹² and yet not executed; 6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

6:11 We have spoken freely to you,¹³ Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. 6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted,¹⁴ but you are restricted in your affections for us. 6:13 Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my¹⁵ children – open wide your hearts to us¹⁶ also.

Unequal Partners

6:14 Do not become partners¹⁷ with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar?¹⁸ Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? 6:16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are¹⁹ the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them²⁰ and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”²¹ 6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing,²² and I will welcome²³ you,²⁴

Philippians 4:8

4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters,²⁵ whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

Philippians 4:2

4:2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord.

Philippians 2:22

2:22 But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.

James 3:13

True Wisdom

3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.²⁶

James 3:17

3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating,²⁷ full of mercy and good fruit,²⁸ impartial, and not hypocritical.²⁹

James 3:2

3:2 For we all stumble³⁰ in many ways. If someone does not stumble³¹ in what he says,³² he is a perfect individual,³³ able to control the entire body as well.

James 1:5-8

1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. 1:6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, 1:8 since he is a double-minded individual,³⁴ unstable in all his ways.

¹tn Or “ministers.”

²tn Or “we have commended ourselves by all things.”

³tn Or “in trouble and suffering.”

⁴tn Or “rebellions” (uprisings in open defiance of civil authority).

⁵tn Usually κόποις (kopois) has been translated as “labors” or “hard work,” but see Matt 26:10 where it means “trouble”; “distress” (L&N 22.7). In this context with so many other terms denoting suffering and difficulty, such a meaning is preferable.

⁶tn Or “by holiness of spirit.”

⁷tn Or “sincere.”

⁸tn Grk “by the word of truth”; understanding ἀληθείας (alhqeias) as an attributive genitive (“truthful word”).

⁹tn Or “speech.” In this context it is more likely that λόγος (logos) refers to Paul’s message (thus “teaching”) than to his speech in general.

¹⁰tn The phrase “for the right hand and for the left” possibly refers to a combination of an offensive weapon (a sword for the right hand) and a defensive weapon (a shield for the left).

¹¹tn Or “regarded as deceivers.”

¹²tn Grk “disciplined,” but in this context probably a reference to scourging prior to execution (yet the execution is not carried out).

¹³tn Grk “our mouth has been open to you,” an idiom for openness in communication.

¹⁴tn Grk “You are not restricted by us.”

¹⁵tn The word “my” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

¹⁶tn The words “to us” are not in the Greek text but are implied.

¹⁷tn Or “Do not be mismatched.”

¹⁸sn The Greek term Βελιάρ (Beliar) is a spelling variant for Βελιάλ (Belial, see Judg 20:13 LXX). It occurs only here in the NT. Beliar is a reference to Satan.

¹⁹tc Most witnesses, including some important ones (Ì⁴⁶ א² C D² F G Ψ 0209 Ï lat sy Tert), read ὑμεῖς…ἐστε (Jumei"…este, “you are”) instead of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν (Jhmei"…esmen, “we are”) here, but several other early and important mss (א* B D* L P 0243 6 33 81 326 365 1175 1739 1881 2464 co Cl Or) have ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν. The external evidence is somewhat in favor of the first person pronoun and verb; the internal evidence weighs in even stronger. In light of the parallel in 1 Cor 3:16, where Paul uses ἐστε (“you are the temple of God”), as well as the surrounding context here in which the second person verb or pronoun is used in vv. 14, 17, and 18, the second person reading seems obviously motivated. The first person reading can explain the rise of the other reading, but the reverse is not as easily done. Consequently, the first person reading of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν has all the credentials of authenticity.

²⁰tn Or “live among them,” “live with them.”

²¹sn A quotation from Lev 26:12; also similar to Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27.

²²sn A quotation from Isa 52:11.

²³tn Or “will receive.”

²⁴sn A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41.

²⁵tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

²⁶tn Grk “works in the gentleness of wisdom.”

²⁷tn Or “willing to yield,” “open to persuasion.”

²⁸tn Grk “fruits.” The plural Greek term καρπούς has been translated with the collective singular “fruit.”

²⁹tn Or “sincere.”

³⁰tn Or “fail.”

³¹tn Or “fail.”

³²tn Grk “in speech.”

³³tn The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person,” as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2).

³⁴tn Grk “a man of two minds,” continuing the description of the person in v. 7, giving the reason that he cannot expect to receive anything. The word for “man” or “individual” is ἀνήρ (anhr), which often means “male” or “man (as opposed to woman).” But it sometimes is used generically to mean “anyone,” “a person,” as here (cf. BDAG 79 s.v. 2).