Daily Scripture Reading 2Corinthians 6:1 - 7:7

Some Christians claim that believers should never say anything that offends other people. That means they do not take a stand on abortion or same-sex marriage, nor do they speak about sin and hell, because all those things would offend people.

Today’s passage contains a verse that is often used to promulgate the claim that we should never say anything offensive. There is also a verse in today’s passage which references some of the beatings Paul endured. The fact that Paul was beaten indicates he preached things that offended people.

As we read chapter 6, we will see that Paul’s command to give no cause for offense has to do with how we treat other people, not what we say to other people.

Chapter 5 proclaims that the love of Christ controls us because He died for all so that we would live for Christ and not ourselves. We have been reconciled to God and now have a ministry of reconciliation. This makes us ambassadors for Christ.

2Cor. 6:1 ¶ And working together with Him, we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

2Cor. 6:2 for He says,

“AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,

AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”

Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—

Paul quoted from Isaiah 49. That chapter is about the Servant of God who was destined to turn Jacob back to Yahweh and be a light of the nations so that the salvation of Yahweh would reach the ends of the earth. Yahweh went on to say that in an acceptable time He would give His Servant as a covenant.

Paul wrote that they were living in the acceptable time; therefore, the Corinthians should not miss the significance of Christ. If they did not grasp the impact of what had happened through Christ, then they would be receiving the grace of God in vain, meaning receiving the grace of God would be pointless.

2Cor. 6:3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

Some Christians focus on this verse to argue that Christians should never offend anyone under any circumstance, including we should never speak any biblical truth that offends anyone. However, Jesus plainly told us the cross is an offense; therefore, we will offend people with the truth.

What Paul means by this verse is that we should not do things like lie, cheat, deceive, or be abusive because that would discredit Christianity.

2Cor. 6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships,

2Cor. 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

Verses 4 and 5 list some of the things Paul endured in order to proclaim the gospel. The fact that he suffered things like beatings means he offended someone with the truth.

2Cor. 6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love,

Verse 6 lists some of the characteristics Christians should possess in order to fulfill the command in verse 3 against giving cause for offense.

2Cor. 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

This verse lists the tools Paul used to do ministry.

2Cor. 6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;

2Cor. 6:9 as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet behold, we live; as punished and yet not put to death,

2Cor. 6:10 as sorrowful but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Verses 8-10 list the misunderstandings people had regarding Paul.

Look at the phrase “but making many rich” in verse 10. Salvation makes people rich because the value of eternity with God is far more valuable than all the wealth on earth. Salvation is something we take with us to eternity. Earthly wealth is worthless as soon as we die.

2Cor. 6:11 ¶ Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.

2Cor. 6:12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.

2Cor. 6:13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

2Cor. 6:14 ¶ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

This verse is commonly used by Christians as a command that believers should not marry unbelievers. That is correct, a Christian should not marry an unbeliever because that would be an unequal yoke.

Most Christians do not apply this verse to anything outside marriage, but that is short-changing this command. This verse is worded in such a way that the command needs to be applied to any situation that binds a Christian to other people, not just marriage.

Being a business partner, an employee, or a member of a civic organization could be a yoke, depending on the nature of the organization and how easy it would be to leave the situation. If your business partner is an unbeliever and does not have godly values, then you will have problems. If you are a member of an organization that is promoting something sinful, then you are unequally yoked. Christians should not work for employers that require you to do something sinful or unethical.

When we apply this verse, we need to apply it to all situations where we have obligations to other people or organizations.

2Cor. 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

2Cor. 6:16 Or what agreement has a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

2Cor. 6:17 Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.

“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN,

And I will welcome you.

2Cor. 6:18 AND I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.

2Cor. 7:1 ¶ Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Cor. 7:2 ¶ Make room for us in your hearts. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one.

Verse 1 and 2 are examples of the behavior Paul advocated in 2Cor 6:3 when he commanded the Corinthians to give no cause for offense in anything. People will be offended by the truth, but that should not stop us from speaking the truth. However, we should not offend people by doing things such as being defiled by the flesh or taking advantage of people.

2Cor. 7:3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

2Cor. 7:4 Great is my boldness toward you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I have been filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

2Cor. 7:5 ¶ For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side—conflicts without, fears within.

2Cor. 7:6 But God, who comforts the humbled, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

2Cor. 7:7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.

There are many Christians today who are against speaking truth that offends people. However, they often do not seem concerned about the amount of deceit and dishonesty that exists in Christianity. They should have the opposite mentality. We need to speak the truth about the cross even though it offends people. But our behavior towards other people should be honest and upright. We should not mistreat, lie, or deceive.

What are some examples of truths that offend people that we need to proclaim even though they are offensive?

What are some ways modern Christians are discrediting the gospel by how they treat other people?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”