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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God…” By verse 3, the text has turned to “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:” It lands on “By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as accepted, salvation, time, afflictions, approving, beseech tie the complete block together. The central idea, “2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Ghost, Giving, Holy. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: accepted, salvation, time, afflictions, approving, beseech
Verse-by-verse path
- 2 Corinthians 6:1
“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 6:2
“(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 line’s distinctive content terms include accepted, salvation, time. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:” Naming Giving keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4
“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in…” 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 6:5
“In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;” The line’s distinctive content terms include fastings, imprisonments, labours. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6
“By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,” Naming Ghost and Holy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand…” By verse 9, the text has turned to “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not…” It lands on “Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as report, straitened, alway, armour, bowels, chastened tie the complete block together. The central idea, “2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Corinthians, God. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 9: “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: report, straitened, alway, armour, bowels, chastened
Verse-by-verse path
- 2 Corinthians 6:7
“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 6:8
“By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;” The line’s distinctive content terms include report, deceivers, dishonour. Its relationship to verses 7 and 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 2 Corinthians 6:9
“As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;” The line’s distinctive content terms include chastened, dying, killed. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 2 Corinthians 6:10
“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” The line’s distinctive content terms include alway, making, nothing. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
- 2 Corinthians 6:11
“O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.” Naming Corinthians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:12
“Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.” The line’s distinctive content terms include straitened, bowels. Its relationship to verses 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
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.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.” By verse 15, the text has turned to “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an…” It lands on “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 3 questions, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Connecting words, claims, reasons, contrasts, and commands hold the argument together. Each instruction draws its force from the truth that supports it. Words such as Lord, temple, agreement, Almighty, Belial, believeth tie the complete block together. The central idea, “2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Lord, Almighty, Belial, Christ, Father. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 15: “And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: Lord, temple, agreement, Almighty, Belial, believeth
Verse-by-verse path
- 2 Corinthians 6:13
“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 6:14
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- 2 Corinthians 6:15
“And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
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.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the audience, problem, argument, command, and pastoral purpose.
- Follow connecting words so that one sentence remains inside the author’s reasoning.
- Distinguish a universal theological claim from an instruction shaped by a particular situation.
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.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from 2 Corinthians 6?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of 2 Corinthians 6 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: 2 Corinthians 6 develops its own movement around accepted, enlarged, Lord, receive, report?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?