2 Korintus 6:1--9:15
Konteks6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 1 6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” 2 Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! 6:3 We do not give anyone 3 an occasion for taking an offense in anything, 4 so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 6:4 But as God’s servants, 5 we have commended ourselves in every way, 6 with great endurance, in persecutions, 7 in difficulties, in distresses, 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, 8 in troubles, 9 in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, 10 by genuine 11 love, 6:7 by truthful 12 teaching, 13 by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, 14 6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, 15 and yet true; 6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged 16 and yet not executed; 6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken freely to you, 17 Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. 6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted, 18 but you are restricted in your affections for us. 6:13 Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my 19 children – open wide your hearts to us 20 also.
6:14 Do not become partners 21 with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 6:15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? 22 Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? 6:16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are 23 the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them 24 and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 25 6:17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing, 26 and I will welcome 27 you, 28 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” 29 says the All-Powerful Lord. 30
7:1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves 31 from everything that could defile the body 32 and the spirit, and thus accomplish 33 holiness out of reverence for God. 34 7:2 Make room for us in your hearts; 35 we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, 36 we have exploited no one. 37 7:3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before 38 that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you. 39
7:4 I have great confidence in you; I take great pride 40 on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; 41 I am overflowing with joy in the midst of 42 all our suffering. 7:5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our body 43 had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way – struggles from the outside, fears from within. 7:6 But God, who encourages 44 the downhearted, encouraged 45 us by the arrival of Titus. 7:7 We were encouraged 46 not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement 47 you gave 48 him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, 49 your deep concern 50 for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever. 7:8 For even if I made you sad 51 by my letter, 52 I do not regret having written it 53 (even though I did regret it, 54 for 55 I see that my letter made you sad, 56 though only for a short time). 7:9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, 57 but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, 58 so that you were not harmed 59 in any way by us. 7:10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death. 7:11 For see what this very thing, this sadness 60 as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, 61 what indignation, 62 what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, 63 what punishment! 64 In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 7:12 So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf 65 before God. 7:13 Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit. 66 7:14 For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, 67 but just as everything we said to you was true, 68 so our boasting to Titus about you 69 has proved true as well. 7:15 And his affection for you is much greater 70 when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. 7:16 I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.
8:1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, 71 the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 8:2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth 72 of their generosity. 8:3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, 73 8:4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping 74 the saints. 8:5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 8:6 Thus 75 we urged 76 Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, 77 so also he should complete this act of kindness 78 for you. 8:7 But as you excel 79 in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you 80 – make sure that you excel 81 in this act of kindness 82 too. 8:8 I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. 83 8:9 For you know the grace 84 of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. 8:10 So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you 85 made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, 8:11 to finish what you started, 86 so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, 87 you can also complete it 88 according to your means. 89 8:12 For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself 90 is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. 8:13 For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. 8:14 At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, 91 so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, 8:15 as it is written: “The one who gathered 92 much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.” 93
8:16 But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion 94 I have for you, 8:17 because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, 95 he is coming 96 to you of his own accord. 97 8:18 And we are sending 98 along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. 99 8:19 In addition, 100 this brother 101 has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift 102 to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. 103 8:20 We did this 104 as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. 8:21 For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men. 105 8:22 And we are sending 106 with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. 8:23 If there is any question 107 about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers 108 of the churches, a glory to Christ. 8:24 Therefore show 109 them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. 110
9:1 For it is not necessary 111 for me to write you about this service 112 to the saints, 9:2 because I know your eagerness to help. 113 I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, 114 that Achaia has been ready to give 115 since last year, and your zeal to participate 116 has stirred up most of them. 117 9:3 But I am sending 118 these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready 119 just as I kept telling them. 9:4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated 120 (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. 121 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution 122 you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift 123 and not as something you feel forced to do. 124 9:6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously 125 will also reap generously. 9:7 Each one of you should give 126 just as he has decided in his heart, 127 not reluctantly 128 or under compulsion, 129 because God loves a cheerful giver. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace overflow 130 to you so that because you have enough 131 of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow 132 in every good work. 9:9 Just as it is written, “He 133 has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.” 134 9:10 Now God 135 who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, 136 which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 9:12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing for 137 the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. 9:13 Through the evidence 138 of this service 139 they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing 140 with them and with everyone. 9:14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. 141 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 142
[6:1] 1 tn Or “receive the grace of God uselessly.”
[6:2] 2 sn A quotation from Isa 49:8.
[6:3] 3 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
[6:3] 4 tn Other interpretations of the first part of 2 Cor 6:3 are possible. The phrase could also mean, “not putting an obstacle in the way of anyone” (L&N 22.14), or “giving no one in anything a cause to sin” (L&N 88.307).
[6:4] 6 tn Or “we have commended ourselves by all things.”
[6:4] 7 tn Or “in trouble and suffering.”
[6:5] 8 tn Or “rebellions” (uprisings in open defiance of civil authority).
[6:5] 9 tn Usually κόποις (kopois) has been translated as “labors” or “hard work,” but see Matt 26:10 where it means “trouble”; “distress” (L&N 22.7). In this context with so many other terms denoting suffering and difficulty, such a meaning is preferable.
[6:6] 10 tn Or “by holiness of spirit.”
[6:7] 12 tn Grk “by the word of truth”; understanding ἀληθείας (alhqeias) as an attributive genitive (“truthful word”).
[6:7] 13 tn Or “speech.” In this context it is more likely that λόγος (logos) refers to Paul’s message (thus “teaching”) than to his speech in general.
[6:7] 14 tn The phrase “for the right hand and for the left” possibly refers to a combination of an offensive weapon (a sword for the right hand) and a defensive weapon (a shield for the left).
[6:8] 15 tn Or “regarded as deceivers.”
[6:9] 16 tn Grk “disciplined,” but in this context probably a reference to scourging prior to execution (yet the execution is not carried out).
[6:11] 17 tn Grk “our mouth has been open to you,” an idiom for openness in communication.
[6:12] 18 tn Grk “You are not restricted by us.”
[6:13] 19 tn The word “my” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
[6:13] 20 tn The words “to us” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[6:14] 21 tn Or “Do not be mismatched.”
[6:15] 22 sn The Greek term Βελιάρ (Beliar) is a spelling variant for Βελιάλ (Belial, see Judg 20:13 LXX). It occurs only here in the NT. Beliar is a reference to Satan.
[6:16] 23 tc Most witnesses, including some important ones (Ì46 א2 C D2 F G Ψ 0209 Ï lat sy Tert), read ὑμεῖς…ἐστε (Jumei"…este, “you are”) instead of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν (Jhmei"…esmen, “we are”) here, but several other early and important
[6:16] 24 tn Or “live among them,” “live with them.”
[6:16] sn I will live in them. The OT text that lies behind this passage (Lev 26:11-12) speaks of God dwelling in the midst of his people. The Greek preposition en in the phrase en autoi" (“in them”) can also have that meaning (“among” or “with”). However, Paul appears to be extending the imagery here to involve God (as the Spirit) dwelling in his people, since he calls believers “the temple of the living God” in the previous clause, imagery he uses elsewhere in his writings (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21-22).
[6:16] 25 sn A quotation from Lev 26:12; also similar to Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27.
[6:17] 26 sn A quotation from Isa 52:11.
[6:17] 27 tn Or “will receive.”
[6:17] 28 sn A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41.
[6:18] 29 sn A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6.
[6:18] 30 tn Traditionally, “the Lord Almighty.” BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…κύριος π. (oft. LXX) 2 Cor 6:18.”
[7:1] 31 tn Or “purify ourselves.”
[7:1] 32 tn Grk “from every defilement of the flesh.”
[7:1] 33 tn Grk “accomplishing.” The participle has been translated as a finite verb due to considerations of contemporary English style, and “thus” has been supplied to indicate that it represents a result of the previous cleansing.
[7:1] 34 tn Grk “in the fear of God.”
[7:2] 35 tn The phrase “in your hearts” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.
[7:2] 36 tn “We have ruined no one” may refer to financial loss (“we have caused no one to suffer financial loss”) but it may also refer to the undermining of faith (“we have corrupted no one’s faith,”). Both options are mentioned in L&N 20.23.
[7:2] 37 tn Or “we have taken advantage of no one.”
[7:3] 38 sn See 2 Cor 1:4-7.
[7:3] 39 tn The words “with you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
[7:4] 40 tn Grk “great is my boasting.”
[7:4] 42 tn Grk “I am overflowing with joy in all our suffering”; the words “in the midst of” are not in the Greek text but are supplied to clarify that Paul is not rejoicing in the suffering itself, but in his relationship with the Corinthians in the midst of all his suffering.
[7:6] 44 tn Or “comforts,” “consoles.”
[7:6] 45 tn Or “comforted,” “consoled.”
[7:7] 46 tn Because of the length and complexity of this Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the phrase “We were encouraged.”
[7:7] 47 tn Or “comfort,” “consolation.”
[7:7] 48 tn Grk “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged by you.” The passive construction was translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the repeated word “encouraged” was replaced in the translation by “gave” to avoid redundancy in the translation.
[7:7] 49 tn Or “your grieving,” “your deep sorrow.”
[7:8] 51 tn Grk “if I grieved you.”
[7:8] 52 sn My letter. Paul is referring to the “severe” letter mentioned in 2 Cor 2:4.
[7:8] 53 tn Grk “I do not regret”; direct objects in Greek must often be supplied from the context. Here one could simply supply “it,” but since Paul is referring to the effects of his previous letter, clarity is improved if “having written it” is supplied.
[7:8] 54 tn Grk “I did regret”; the direct object “it” must be supplied from the context.
[7:8] 55 tc A few important
[7:8] 56 tn Grk “my letter grieved you.”
[7:9] 57 tn Grk “were grieved” (so also twice later in the verse).
[7:9] 58 tn Grk “corresponding to God,” that is, corresponding to God’s will (κατὰ θεόν, kata qeon). The same phrase occurs in vv. 10 and 11.
[7:9] 59 tn Grk “so that you did not suffer loss.”
[7:11] 60 tn Grk “this very thing, to be grieved.”
[7:11] 61 tn The words “of yourselves” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[7:11] 62 sn What indignation refers to the Corinthians’ indignation at the offender.
[7:11] 64 sn That is, punishment for the offender.
[7:12] 65 tn Grk “but in order that your eagerness on our behalf might be revealed to you.”
[7:13] 66 tn Or “all of you have put his mind at ease.”
[7:14] 67 tn Grk “I have not been put to shame”; the words “by you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[7:14] 68 tn Grk “just as we spoke everything to you in truth.”
[7:14] 69 tn The words “about you” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[7:15] 70 tn Or “is all the more.”
[8:1] 71 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:8.
[8:3] 73 tn Or “spontaneously.”
[8:4] 74 tn Or “of ministering to.”
[8:6] 75 tn A new sentence was started here in the translation and the word “thus” was supplied to indicate that it expresses the result of the previous clause.
[8:6] 77 tn The words “this work” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted and must be supplied from the context.
[8:7] 79 tn Grk “as you abound.”
[8:7] 80 tc The reading “the love from us that is in you” is very difficult in this context, for Paul is here enumerating the Corinthians’ attributes: How is it possible for them to excel “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, because of this difficulty, several early scribes, as well as most later ones (א C D F G Ψ [33] Ï lat), altered the text to read “your love for us” (so NIV; Grk ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμῖν ἀγάπῃ [ex Jumwn en Jhmin agaph]). The reading ἐξ ἡμῶν ἐν ὑμῖν ἀγάπῃ (ex Jhmwn en Jumin agaph) is found, however, in excellent and early witnesses (Ì46 B 0243 6 104 630 1175 1739 1881 co). As the harder reading it explains the rise of the other reading. What, then, is the force of “in the love from us that is in you”? Most likely, Paul is commending the Corinthians for excelling in deriving some inspiration from the apostles’ love for them.
[8:8] 83 tn Grk “by means of the eagerness of others.”
[8:11] 86 tn Grk “and now also complete the doing.”
[8:11] 87 tn Grk “just as the eagerness to want [it].”
[8:11] 88 tn Grk “so also it might be completed.” The passive construction was converted to an active one in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.
[8:11] 89 tn Grk “completed from what you have.”
[8:12] 90 tn The words “the gift itself” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Translators often supply an English phrase like “it is” (NASB) but in the context, Paul is clearly referring to the collection Titus was to oversee (2 Cor 8:4-7). Therefore there is no reason not to specify the referent (the gift) more narrowly for clarity.
[8:15] 92 tn The word “gathered” is not in the Greek text, but is implied (so also for the second occurrence of the word later in the verse).
[8:15] 93 sn A quotation from Exod 16:18.
[8:17] 95 tn The comparative form of this adjective is used here with elative meaning.
[8:17] 96 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
[8:17] 97 tn Or “of his own free will.”
[8:18] 98 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
[8:18] 99 tn Grk “the brother of whom the praise in the gospel [is] throughout all the churches.”
[8:19] 100 tn Grk “gospel, and not only this, but.” Here a new sentence was started in the translation.
[8:19] 101 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the brother mentioned in v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[8:19] 102 tn That is, the offering or collection being taken to assist impoverished Christians.
[8:19] 103 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied (see L&N 25.68).
[8:20] 104 tn “This” refers to sending the brother mentioned in 2 Cor 8:18 to Corinth along with Titus. The words “We did this” have no equivalent in the Greek text, but are necessary to maintain the thought flow in English. The Greek participle that begins v. 20 continues the sentence begun in v. 18 which concerns the sending of the other brother mentioned there.
[8:21] 105 sn An allusion to Prov 3:4.
[8:22] 106 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
[8:23] 107 tn Grk “If concerning Titus” (εἴτε ὑπὲρ Τίτου, eite Juper Titou); the Greek sentence opens with an ellipsis which must be supplied: If [there is any question] about Titus.”
[8:24] 109 tc The sense of this translation is attested by the fact that most of the later
[8:24] tn In the Greek text ἐνδεικνύμενοι (endeiknumenoi) is a present participle which is translated as an imperative verb (see BDF §468; ExSyn 650-52).
[8:24] 110 tn Or “our boasting about you.”
[9:1] 111 tn Or “it is superfluous.”
[9:1] 112 tn Or “this ministry,” “this contribution.”
[9:2] 113 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[9:2] 114 tn Grk “concerning which I keep boasting to the Macedonians about you.” A new sentence was started here and the translation was simplified by removing the relative clause and repeating the antecedent “this eagerness of yours.”
[9:2] 115 tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
[9:2] 116 tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
[9:2] 117 sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).
[9:3] 118 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
[9:3] 119 tn That is, ready with the collection for the saints.
[9:4] 120 tn Or “be disgraced”; Grk “be put to shame.”
[9:4] 121 tn Grk “by this confidence”; the words “we had in you” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied as a necessary clarification for the English reader.
[9:5] 122 tn Grk “the blessing.”
[9:5] 123 tn Grk “a blessing.”
[9:5] 124 tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.
[9:6] 125 tn Or “bountifully”; so also in the next occurrence in the verse.
[9:7] 126 tn Or “must do.” The words “of you” and “should give” are not in the Greek text, which literally reads, “Each one just as he has decided in his heart.” The missing words are an ellipsis; these or similar phrases must be supplied for the English reader.
[9:7] 127 tn Or “in his mind.”
[9:7] 128 tn Or “not from regret”; Grk “not out of grief.”
[9:7] 129 tn Or “not out of a sense of duty”; Grk “from necessity.”
[9:8] 131 tn Or “so that by having enough.” The Greek participle can be translated as a participle of cause (“because you have enough”) or means (“by having enough”).
[9:9] 133 sn He in the quotation refers to the righteous person.
[9:9] 134 sn A quotation from Ps 112:9.
[9:10] 135 tn Grk “he”; the referent (God) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[9:11] 136 tn Grk “in every way for every generosity,” or “he will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times” (L&N 57.29).
[9:12] 137 tn Or “not only supplying.”
[9:13] 138 tn Or “proof,” or perhaps “testing” (NRSV).
[9:13] 140 tn Or “your partnership”; Grk “your fellowship.”
[9:14] 141 tn Grk “the extraordinary grace of God to you”; the point is that God has given or shown grace to the Corinthians.
[9:15] 142 tn “Let us thank God for his gift which cannot be described with words” (L&N 33.202).
. [