Глава 6

2 Corinthians 6:1. We, as companions, beg you so that the grace of God will not be received by you in vain. “We pray earnestly that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.” since the Apostle said: “according to Christ we embassy,” then, of necessity, he makes it known that those who embassy assist them, begging them to take advantage of Divine grace and not make the Economy vain and futile if they show their lives to be contrary to it. 2 Corinthians 6:2. For it is said: in an acceptable time I heard you and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time, behold, now is the day of salvation. “The saying is, in time of pleasure I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you” (Is. 49:8). Thus, taking advantage of the prophetic testimony, the Apostle strengthens his exhortation. “Behold, now is the time favorable; behold, now is the day of salvation”; because life tends to end. If we have not received salvation now, we will not be deprived of it when we leave here. Then he shows them his own works for their benefit. 2 Corinthians 6:3. We do not cause anyone to stumble in anything, so that the ministry is not reproached. 2Cor.6:4. But in everything we show ourselves as servants of God, in great patience, in adversity, in need, in difficult circumstances. 2 Cor.6:5. Under blows, in prison, in exile, in labor, in vigils, in fasting. 2 Cor.6:6. In purity, in prudence, in generosity, in goodness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love. 2 Corinthians 6:7. In the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapon of righteousness in the right and left hand. 2 Cor.6:8. In honor and dishonor, in reproach and praise: we are considered deceivers, but we are faithful. 2 Corinthians 6:9. We are unknown, but we are recognized; we are considered dead, but behold, we are alive; we are punished, but we do not die. 2 Corinthians 6:10. We are saddened, but we always rejoice; We are poor, but we enrich many; we have nothing, but we possess everything. “Let no one stumble in anything, so that his service may be blameless, but in everything he presents himself as God’s servant.” We are careful about this, so as not to give anyone even an accidental reason for temptation, but to show in everything that we ourselves are worthy of God’s service. What are the types of this service? “In much patience, in sorrows, in troubles, in distress, in wounds, in prisons, in disorder.” The Apostle separately renamed what happens from the outside, but adds spontaneous labor to involuntary labor. “In work, in vigils, in fasting, in purification, in reason, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in the word of truth, in the power of God.” The apostle did not have enough of the sorrows that befell him from the outside, but he himself thought of teaching the body not only fasting and vigil, but also handicrafts, for this he means by the word: “in labor.” He calls “purification” contempt for property, because he did not even accept what was necessary from the Corinthians, and “reason,” as I think, he calls teaching, because it is difficult, then he speaks of “long-suffering” towards strangers, about “kindness” towards one’s own, about pleasing the All-Holy Spirit, because he followed His inspirations: “Unfeigned love” calls sincere and true love, not outwardly shown, but confirmed by deeds; and the “word of truth” is the preaching of piety. Nevertheless, he made it dependent on the “power of God”: because with its help he succeeded in what was said. “Weapons of righteousness are with the right hand and with the neck, with glory and dishonor, with evil and with praise: as they are ladders, and as truth: as we are ignorant, and knowable: as we are dying, and behold, we live: as we are punished, and not put to death: as we are sorrowful, but we rejoice ever: as we are poor, but rich with many: as if he has nothing, but contains everything.” All this is directly opposite to one another: glory to dishonor, blasphemy to praise, life to death, joy to sorrow. However, the Apostle made both of them weapons of truth and from the opposite he dissolved a single virtue. And glory did not lead him to exaltation, dishonor did not humiliate him; the praise did not puff up, the bad review about him did not sadden him; but, walking along these opposites, he remained unchanged. “Gum” apparently calls what is pleasant, and “shuimi” the opposite, giving these names according to the generally accepted opinion. His final words are also worthy of surprise, for, having said: “like poor people,” he did not add: “but we abound in necessary things,” but says: “richly with much”; because, collecting money from everyone, he sent to the poor and, having nothing, was the lord in every pious house. 2 Corinthians 6:11. Our lips are open to you, Corinthians, our hearts are enlarged. “Our lips are opened to you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.” I am forced to say this out of love for you, because I have contained all of you within myself: such is the property of love; It makes the hearts of those who possess it spacious. This is also expressed in the following words: 2 Corinthians 6:12. You are not cramped in us; but your hearts are tight. “You don’t fit into us too closely.” For whoever is hostile towards someone forces the very remembrance of him out of his thoughts. “You are oppressed in your bellies.” He depicted their most important guilt, making it clear that he had spaciously accommodated them all in his heart, and denouncing them that they did not want to repay him in kind, but did not find room in themselves for one person. Why did I add: 2 Corinthians 6:13. In equal retribution, I say, as to children, you too will spread. 2 Corinthians 6:14. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with iniquity? What does light have in common with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:15. What agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what is the complicity of the faithful with the infidel? 2 Corinthians 6:16. What is the relationship between the church of God and idols? For you are the church of the living God, as God said: I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 2 Corinthians 6:17. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean; and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians 6:18. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. “The same is retribution, as I say to a child.” since he struck them with the accusation, he heals them with the name of children. “You too will spread. Do not be subject to another yoke like unfaithfulness.” Give me equal love, do not imitate the oxen, pulling and tilting the yoke in different directions, preferring the flattery of the infidels to our teaching. “What has righteousness to do with lawlessness? Or some kind of communication between light and darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial, or what part will I return with the infidel?” “Or some kind of building up the church of God from idols?” With all this the Apostle showed that the teachers who were contrary to him lead into lawlessness and darkness and are the servants of the devil, because he called the devil “Beliar.” “For you are the living church of God.” Then he proved the truth of what was said by prophetic testimony. “As God said: I will dwell in them and walk around, and I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Lev. 26:12). “Then come out from among them and separate yourself, says the Lord, and do not touch uncleanness” (Is. 52:11); “And I will accept you, and I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (Jer. 31:1). Thus, having instructed us by prophetic teaching to avoid company with opponents and comforted us with Divine promises, he himself offers his own admonition. You might be interested in: