FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five modern translations. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one main subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
A. 2Co_6:1 of this chapter is the crux to the interpretation of the entire chapter. The context involves the believers of the church at Corinth and, therefore, does not involve apostasy (see Special Topic at 1Co_6:9), but failure to live the Christian life effectively.
B. Beginning in 2Co_6:4 there is a series of prepositions.
1. en with the dative, eighteen times, 2Co_6:4-7
2. dia with the genitive, three times, 2Co_6:7-8
3. hôs with present participles, seven times, 2Co_6:9-10
These seem to involve a description of Paul's ministry as far as the problems and the pressures, both internal and external, as well as the commensurate grace of God.
C. The concluding paradoxes of 2Co_6:8-10 seem to describe Paul's life, both from the critics' point of view and from God's point of view.
D. The section 2Co_6:14 to 2Co_7:1 seems to be out of context. 2 Corinthians 6 :2Co_7:2 picks up the terminology and discussion of 2Co_6:13. This section is very Jewish in nature. It is a warning against identifying oneself too closely with pagan culture. The warnings are from an OT setting (i.e., Jews vs. Gentiles or people of God vs. idolaters). However, Paul is using it in a similar way to 1Co_10:14-33, where he discusses Christian participation in pagan worship.
This paragraph's seeming disjunction has caused theories of 2 Corinthians being a composite letter from several letters of Paul's sent to Corinth.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Does 2Co_6:1 teach that we can lose our salvation?
2. How can a Christian live so as not to put any stumbling blocks in front of others?
3. Why was Paul's life so hard?
4. What does it mean to "be ye separate"?
5. Is salvation absolutely free or does it cost us everything?
