2 Corinthians 6:3

Contextual Overview

¹Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” ¹ Wee then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine. ¹ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ¹ Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ¹ And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— ¹ We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. ¹Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God's grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness]. ¹ And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— ¹And working together with Him, we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain— ¹As God's fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

2 Corinthians 1:12, 2 Corinthians 8:20, Matthew 17:27, Matthew 18:6, Romans 14:13, 1 Corinthians 8:9-13, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 1 Corinthians 10:23, 1 Corinthians 10:24, 1 Corinthians 10:32, 1 Corinthians 10:33

Reciprocal: Isaiah 57:14 - take Matthew 15:12 - Knowest Mark 9:42 - offend Acts 19:37 - which Acts 20:18 - after 2 Corinthians 7:2 - we have wronged Ephesians 4:12 - the work Philippians 1:10 - without Philippians 2:4 - General 1 Thessalonians 1:5 - what 1 Thessalonians 2:10 - how 1 Thessalonians 5:22 - General 1 Timothy 3:7 - lest 1 Timothy 4:10 - therefore 2 Timothy 2:15 - a workman

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
It happened, when men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,

Genesis 6:1
And it happened that, when humankind began to multiply on the face of the ground, daughters were born to them.

Genesis 6:1
The number of people on earth began to grow, and daughters were born to them.

Genesis 6:1
When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
So when men beganne to be multiplied vpon the earth, and there were daughters borne vnto them,

Genesis 6:1
Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,

Genesis 6:1
More and more people were born, until finally they spread all over the earth. Some of their daughters were so beautiful that supernatural beings came down and married the ones they wanted.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Giving no offence in anything,.... These words are in connection with 2 Corinthians 6:1 and to be considered either as a continuation of the exhortation to others, that they would take care to give no offence to any; or rather as an account the apostle gives of himself, and other ministers, by way of example; and is as if he had said, I Paul, Timotheus, Silvanus, and other ministers of the word, take all possible care to lay no stumblingblock in the way of the hearers of the Gospel; to give no offence to them that are without, or to them that are within, to Jew or Gentile, or to the church of God, neither by word nor writing, by doctrine or conversation, or in any way whatever: that the ministry be not blamed; the ministry of the word of reconciliation, which they had received of the Lord Jesus. The apostle knew there were persons enow who were waiting all opportunities, and taking all advantages to vilify and reproach the ministry of the Gospel, and so hinder its progress and spread; and that if that was once brought into contempt by the disagreeable conduct of the preachers of it, there would be but little hope of success from it. Some copies read, "our ministry"; and so the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; the Ethiopic version reads, "your ministry".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Giving no offence in anything - We the ministers of God, 2 Corinthians 6:1. The word rendered “offence” means, properly, stumbling; then offence, or cause of offence, a falling into sin. The meaning here is, “giving no occasion for contemning or rejecting the gospel;” and the idea of Paul is, that he and his fellow-apostles so labored as that no one who saw or knew them, should have occasion to reproach the ministry, or the religion which they preached; but so that in their pure and self-denying lives, the strongest argument should be seen for embracing it; compare Matthew 10:16; 1Co 8:13; 1 Corinthians 10:32-33. See the Philippians 2:15 note; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:22 notes. How they conducted so as to give no offence he states in the following verses.

That the ministry be not blamed - The phrase, “the ministry,” refers here not merely to the ministry of Paul, that is, it does not mean merely that he would be subject to blame and reproach, but that the ministry itself which the Lord Jesus had established would be blamed, or would be reproached by the improper conduct of anyone who was engaged in that work. The idea is, that the misconduct of one minister of the gospel would bring a reproach upon the profession itself, and would prevent the usefulness and success of others, just as the misconduct of a physician exposes the whole profession to reproach, or the bad conduct of a lawyer reflects itself in some degree on the entire profession. And it is so everywhere. The errors, follies, misconduct, or bad example of one minister of the gospel brings a reproach upon the sacred calling itself, and prevents the usefulness of many others. Ministers do not stand alone. And though no one can be responsible for the errors and failings of others, yet no one can avoid suffering in regard to his usefulness by the sins of others. Not only, therefore, from a regard to his personal usefulness should every minister be circumspect in his walk, but from respect to the usefulness of all others who sustain the office of the ministry, and from respect to the success of religion all over the world. Paul made it one of the principles of his conduct so to act that no man should have cause to speak reproachfully of the ministry on his account. In order to this, he felt; it to be necessary not only to claim and assert honor for the ministry, but to lead such a life as should deserve the respect of people. If a man wishes to secure respect for his calling, it must be by living in the manner which that calling demands, and then respect and honor will follow as a matter of course; see Calvin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:3. Giving no offence — The word προσκοπη, read προσκομμα, Romans 14:13, signifies a stumbling block in general, or any thing over which a man stumbles or falls; and here means any transgression or scandal that might take place among the ministers, or the Christians themselves, whereby either Jews or Gentiles might take occasion of offence, and vilify the Gospel of Christ.