2Cor 6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Cor 6:1-2: 6:1-2 To win over the disaffected believers at Corinth, Paul appeals to them to listen to him and Timothy as God’s servants and messengers. • As God’s partners: Literally As we work together, which leaves open the question whether Paul meant that they were working together in a team effort, or that they were working together with God.

Summary for 2Cor 6:1-2: 6:1-2 ^a To win over the disaffected believers at Corinth, Paul appeals to them to listen to him and Timothy as God’s servants and messengers.

• As God’s partners: Literally As we work together, which leaves open the question whether Paul meant that they were working together in a team effort, or that they were working together with God.
6:2 ^b This quotation from Isa 49:8 ^c clinches the point that God’s offer of salvation could secure reconciliation between Paul and the Corinthians; their reconciliation with Paul would follow naturally from their true acceptance of the Good News.
Summary for 2Cor 6:3-10: 6:3-10 ^d Paul gives a revealing picture of the hardships of his ministry (cp. 4:7-18 ^e). Nine trials are listed; many of these experiences from Paul’s life are recorded in Acts (e.g., Acts 14:5-6 ^f, 19-20 ^g; 16:19-24 ^h; 21:30-36 ⁱ). Through their steadfast suffering for the Good News, Paul and Timothy (2 Cor 1:1 ^j) showed that they were true ministers of God.
Summary for 2Cor 6:6-7: 6:6-7 ^k Paul describes the spirit with which he faced suffering, attributing his strength to the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.
Summary for 2Cor 6:8-10: 6:8-10 ^l Paul’s character as an apostle was often attacked; he and his colleagues were even called imposters. Yet he was honest in spite of people’s attitudes. They must have thought that Paul was a nobody who could be safely ignored, a foolhardy person who ran unnecessary risks that made him as good as dead already. Paul rebuts each of their allegations with insight into spiritual reality.
Summary for 2Cor 6:11-13: 6:11-13 ^m Paul’s impassioned plea reveals his inner feelings.

• our hearts are open to you ... Open your hearts to us! These sentiments are continued in 7:2 ⁿ (see study notes on 6:14–7:1; 7:2-4).
Summary for 2Cor 6:14-7:1: 6:14–7:1 ^o The connection between 6:13 ^p and 7:2 ^q has led many scholars to conclude that 6:14–7:1 ^r is an inserted fragment from another letter (perhaps the one mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9 ^s). However, this section might just as well be a digression in Paul’s writing, a suitable challenge to the Corinthians to forsake their opposition to Paul and his message. Paul was anxious to see relationships restored; here, Paul draws a picture of believers in Christ forming a holy temple. Believers’ identity as the temple of God motivates the need for harmony among them as well as separation from the impurity of unbelieving attitudes and behaviors. Paul therefore draws the contrast between Christian and pagan morality with quotations from the Old Testament. 6:14 ^t Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers: This instruction alludes to the Jewish prohibition of certain mixtures (Lev 19:19 ^u; Deut 22:10 ^v). Paul was probably referring to how the Corinthians had been involving themselves in idolatrous practices (see 1 Cor 8–10 ^w; cp. 1 Cor 10:14-22 ^x).
6:15 ^y the devil: Greek Beliar. This Hebrew word means “worthless, good-for-nothing”; in the intertestamental period it came to be used as a name for Satan.
6:16 ^z Believers together are the temple of the living God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and thus holy (1 Cor 3:16 ^aa; 1 Pet 2:1-10 ^ab).
6:18 ^ac This quotation is from 2 Sam 7:14 ^ad, though Paul adds and daughters (cp. Isa 43:6 ^ae).