Home
Work together with God
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Good News Translation (GNT)
*************************
1 In our work together with God, then, we beg
you who have received God's grace not to let
it be wasted.
2 Hear what God says: "When the time came
for me to show you favour I heard you;
when the day arrived for me to save you,
I helped you." Listen! This is the hour to
receive God's favour; today is the day to be
saved!
3 We do not want anyone to find fault with our
work, so we try not to put obstacles in
anyone's way.
4 Instead, in everything we do we show that we
are God's servants by patiently enduring
troubles, hardships, and difficulties.
5 We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed;
we have been overworked and have gone
without sleep or food.
6 By our purity, knowledge, patience, and
kindness we have shown ourselves to be
God's servants - by the Holy Spirit, by our true
love,
7 by our message of truth, and by the power of
God. We have righteousness as our weapon,
both to attack and to defend ourselves.
8 We are honoured and disgraced; we are
insulted and praised. We are treated as liars,
yet we speak the truth;
9 as unknown, yet we are known by all; as
though we were dead, but, as you see, we
live on. Although punished, we are not killed;
10 although saddened, we are always glad; we
seem poor, but we make many people rich;
we seem to have nothing, yet we really
possess everything.
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken
frankly to you; we have opened our hearts
wide.
12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you;
it is you who have closed your hearts to us.
13 I speak now as though you were my children:
show us the same feelings that we have for
you. Open your hearts wide!
*************************
Commentary taken from
'The Applied New Testament Commentary'
(Kingsway)
A Description of Paul's Life
2 Corinthians Chapter 6:1-13
Paul calls himself and his fellow apostles
God's fellow workers.
Some Christians think that even after receiving
God's grace it is still possible to lose it again.
If that were so, they would have received it in vain!
Jesus taught about the seed that
fell on rocky soil but then later died.
Other Christians believe that God's salvation
can never be lost, but that a believer's life can
become unfruitful because of sin.
In such a case also, one could say that the grace
had been received in vain.
Whichever meaning Paul intended here let us not be
among those who receive God's grace in vain.
Now the time has come when men and women can
receive salvation through faith in Jesus.
Let no one delay.
Paul does not want to do or say anything that will
block people from coming to Jesus.
Paul always makes sure that his own life and behaviour
are in accordance with his teachings;
otherwise his ministry would be discredited.
It is also true that people are looking for
an excuse not to become Christians.
So they use our bad behaviour as an
excuse not to believe.
Ultimately, they alone are responsible
for their lack of faith.
Regardless of the behaviour of His followers,
Jesus is the sinless Son of God, and
those who reject Him will be condemned.
Paul shows himself to be a true servant of God
in every way, by his endurance of many trials.
Paul describes some of the gifts and fruits
of the Holy Spirit, that are apparent in his life,
to show he is a true servant of God.
The weapons of righteousness refer to parts of
the armour of God.
In the left hand would be the shield of faith,
and in the right hand would be the sword of the Spirit.
Jesus said to His disciples:
"If they (men of the world) persecuted me,
they will persecute you also".
When they hurled their insults at him,
he did not retaliate.
When he chose to follow Jesus,
Paul lost his name, his fame, and his honour.
Even though Paul was beaten,
he did not lose hope;
he had not yet been killed.
Paul appeared sorrowful, yet, in fact,
he was always rejoicing. and has set for us
such a high standard.
Through God's grace and the Holy Spirit's help
we can follow it; we not only can, we must!
Paul has spoken freely and his heart is filled with
love and he says to the Corinthians,
you are withholding your affection from us.
Paul's love for the Corinthians is "wide";
but their love for him is "narrow."
Paul asks the Corinthians to open wide
their hearts to him -
to enlarge their love for him.
Other versions are available here
Return to the Home Page
Contact the Rector
The Revd.
Nic.Edwards
The Rectory,
Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE,
Northampton,
NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 - 815496
(Can be accessed from the mobile device)
Mobile: .....
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Contact the Benefice Office
Sunday School Rooms, Church Lane,
BUGBROOKE, Northampton, NN7 3PB
Land Line: 01604 830373
E-mail:
thebeneficeofbhkandr at gmail dot com
Mon., Tues., Wed,, Thur., Fri.
9:00am to 11:30am
For Baptism bookings (Christenings)
to arrange an appointment please contact
the Benefice Office.
For Wedding bookings:
please contact the Benefice Office to arrange
an appointment.
Who Made This?
Seeing as you asked, if you can give helpful
advice or report factual corrections and
'deliberate mistakes',email:-
regparker3 at gmail dot com
Email addresses shown using words in an
attempt to avoid 'spam',
Type the email address replacing 'at' with '@',
and 'dot' with '.'
|