The big picture
2 Corinthians 6 opens in verse 1 with “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not…”, and closes in verse 18 with “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord…” Repeated or prominent terms include accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Corinthians · King James Version · 182 Corinthians 6:1-6
1–6: We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive…
2 Corinthians 6:1–6 opens with “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in…” and reaches “By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report, with particular weight carried by accepted, salvation, time.
Context that brings the passage to life
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
2 Corinthians 6:1-6
King James Version1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2 Corinthians 6:7-12
7–12: By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of…
2 Corinthians 6:7–12 opens with “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and…” and reaches “Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report, with particular weight carried by report, straitened, alway.
Context that brings the passage to life
“By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
2 Corinthians 6:7-12
King James Version7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
2 Corinthians 6:13-18
13–18: For a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also…
2 Corinthians 6:13–18 opens with “Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.” and reaches “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report, with particular weight carried by Lord, temple, agreement.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.” The line’s distinctive content terms include children, enlarged, recompence. Its relationship to verses 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Corinthians 6:13-18
King James Version13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Corinthians 6:1 begins with “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Corinthians 6:13 forms a natural hinge: “Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.”
The final note
2 Corinthians 6:18 leaves the reader with “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report, righteousness help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.