2 Corinthians 6 Nlt (2024)

FAQs

What is the main message in 2 Corinthians chapter 6? ›

This chapter appeals to those in Corinth not to receive God's grace in vain, insisting that the day of salvation has come. That "day," however, will not last forever. Eventually, Christ will return and the opportunity to receive God's free gift will pass (2 Corinthians 6:1–2).

2 Corinthians 6 is the sixth chapter of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle and Timothy (2 Corinthians 1:1) in Macedonia in 55–56 CE.

Operation (2 Corinthians 6:1)

The Corinthians had been distracted by criticisms of Paul's ministry. He defends the ministry of Christ through him and urges them to focus on the work of God's grace instead. Believers work with God's grace in the process of sanctification. We must not be derailed.

In other words, it is an exhortation to persevere and to avoid apostasy. Others suggest that the exhortation in vv. 1-2 is not directed to those Corinthians who are already born-again, but to those in Corinth who had repeatedly heard the gospel but had made no decision.

It is shameful to see brothers or sisters in Christ cheating one another (1 Corinthians 6:3–8). Paul reminds the Corinthians they are not like those outside of the church. The wicked or unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom. They will not share in God's glory forever.

Second Corinthians tells us that comfort comes through affliction (2 Cor. 1:3–7), sufficiency through insufficiency (3:1–6), life through death (4:7–15), blessing through suffering (6:3–10), salvation through grief (7:2–10), abundance through poverty (8:1–2, 9, 14), and boasting through hardship (11:16–30).

Like 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians covers a myriad of issues in addressing a church that is beset by immorality, false teachers, sectarianism, and theological confusion. In this letter, the Apostle Paul's care and concern for the Corinthian church are palpable.

The briefest definition of grace is “favor,” specifically “unmerited favor from God.” Put another way, it's receiving what we don't deserve.

This raises the question of how anyone could receive God's grace "in vain." "In vain" means without purpose or without result. In this context, Paul is referring to the way the Corinthians respond to this amazing message. It's likely that some in Corinth believe themselves to be receiving God's grace when they are not.

Those in Christ are something other than those who are not in Christ. They are not the same—spiritually—and should not be locked together into any kind of binding relationship. Paul begins to ask a series of questions to show the absurdity of a believer in Jesus being "unequally yoked" with an unbeliever.

What does 2 Corinthians 6 3 mean? ›

He states that he and his co-workers have placed no obstacle in the way of anyone who would come to faith in Christ. He insists that nobody could find any fault with their ministry.

Paul has written that his heart, and the heart of his fellow workers for Christ, is wide open to the Corinthians. He means they have as much love and affection for the Christians in Corinth as they have ever had.

In 2 Corinthians 6, though, Paul puts those relationships in the proper perspective. For Paul, failing to love one another is a sign of accepting the grace of God “in vain.” Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to exhibit faithfulness, not simply through words, but through action.

Paul is demonstrating to the Corinthians that his gospel-preaching ministry has always been commendable. He hopes they will be convinced that he and his co-workers have always acted in integrity and in sincerity as they have represented Christ.

Grace is an unmerited gift from God—no one can boast or claim to have earned it. We are, however, to have good works—to walk in His ways. We also receive that grace through faith in God and Jesus Christ. To put it another way, the justification of our sins, which comes through grace, requires faith.

Theologian Timothy Luke Johnson says that the tearing of the temple curtain could symbolize “the end of the old covenant of atonement through animal sacrifice and the beginning of a 'new covenant'” (Johnson 379).

The Bible goes on to tell us in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.” That word “see” tells us that a lack of peace in relationships becomes a blocker that stops us from enjoying and experiencing the presence of God.

Visiting orphans and widows is so much more than just taking a trip to another country to hand out some food to people you will never see again; visiting orphans and widows means to look after, to take care of, to provide for, with the implication of continuous responsibility.