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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Corinthians 6:6 - 6:6
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
6. ἐν ἁγνότητι. General purity of life and sincerity of purpose (2Co 11:3 and nowhere else in Biblical Greek): in castitate (Vulgate) is too narrow. See Westcott on 1Jn 3:3.
ἐν γνώσει. Knowledge of the spirit of the Gospel; 2Co 8:7, 2Co 11:6; 1Co 12:8; 1Co 13:2; 1Co 13:8; 1Co 14:6.
ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ, ἐν χρηστότητι. These two (coupled Gal 5:22) refer to his conduct towards others. The former is the opposite of ὀξυθυμία, which is not found in Biblical Greek (but ὀξύθυμος in Pro 14:17). The latter is the special grace of the gentleman, placing others at their ease and shrinking from causing pain; invitans ad familiaritatem sui, dulcis alloquio, moribus temperata (Jerome). Trench, Synonyms § lxiii.
ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. It is strange to find the Holy Spirit placed, apparently in a subordinate place, in a list of virtues. But perhaps this and ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ are the closing members of the series, being placed at the end as the source of all these characteristics of the ministry; while immediately after the Holy Spirit are inserted two of the chief particulars in which His influence is exhibited, love (Gal 5:22) and truthfulness. One may arrange the whole list thus; (1) ὑπομονή, exhibited ἐν θλίψεσιν, κ.τ.λ., (2) ἁγνότης, (3) γνῶσις, (4) μακροθυμία, (5) χρηστότης, all of which spring from Πνεῦμα Ἄγιον, exhibited ἐν ἀγάπῃ κ.τ.λ., and from δύναμις θεοῦ. But this is only a possible arrangement, and must not be pressed as intentional. One is tempted, however, to abandon the common reference to the Holy Ghost (A.V., R.V., &c.) and translate, in a spirit that is holy, meaning the Apostle’s own spirit.
ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ. Rom 12:9. Love free from affectation and formality, sincere and from the heart. In 1Ti 1:5, and 2Ti 1:5 it is applied to πίστις, Jam 3:17 to ἡ ἄνωθεν σοφία, 1Pe 1:22 to φιλαδελφία, Wis 5:18 to κρίσις, Wis 18:16 to ἐπιταγή. See on 2Co 10:5. Profane writers seem not to know the word. Marcus Aurelius says, εἰπὲ ὡς δικαιότατον φαίνεταί σοι· μόνον εὐμενῶς καὶ αἰδημόνως καὶ ἀνυποκρίτως.