The Corinthians should not, and Paul tried not, to give any cause for others to stumble because of their ministry. Obviously we cannot prevent all criticism of our ministry, because there may be some who take offense without good reason. Still we should do everything we can to make sure we do not give anyone cause for justifiable criticism. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 - Ambassadors For Christ
On God's side the work of reconciliation is complete. Everything has been done and is in readiness to make forgiveness and justifying righteousness possible as soon as a penitent soul asks for them. He only waits for us to make application for our share in the atonement of Calvary. Many as our trespasses have been, they are not reckoned to us, because they were reckoned to Christ. God wants this known, and so from age to age sends out ambassadors to announce these terms and urge men to accept them.
God sends none forth to entreat men without cooperating with them. When rain falls on a slab of rock, it falls in vain. Be not rock, but loam to the gentle fall of God's grace. Let none of us be stumbling-blocks by the inconsistencies of our character, but all of us stepping-stones and ascending stairways for other souls.
The three marvelous series of paradoxes in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 deserve careful pondering. The first series enumerates Paul's sufferings on behalf of the Gospel; the second, his behavior under them; the third, the contrast between appearance and reality, as judged respectively by time and eternity. The stoic bears life's sorrows with compressed lips; the Christian, with a smile. Let us be always rejoicing, many enriching, and all things possessing. [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 6
1That he has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations, 3and by integrity of life, 4and by patiently enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel 10Of which he speaks the more boldly amongst them because his heart is open to them, 13and he expects the like affection from them again; 14exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters, 17as being themselves temples of the living God
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:3
Giving no occasion of stumbling in any thing [μηδεμιαν εν μηδενι διδοντες προσκοπην] Προσκοπη Proskopē late word (Polybius, lxx), from προσκοπτω proskoptō to strike against, to stumble. Only here in N.T. Note double negative in the Greek. [source]
That the ministry be not blamed [ινα μη μωμητηι η διακονια] Negative purpose First aorist passive subjunctive of old verb μωμαομαι mōmaomai from μωμος mōmos blot, blemish. One can read with profit J. A. Hutton‘s Warrack Lectures, That the Ministry Be Not Blamed. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:3
1 Corinthians 4:12Being reviled we bless [λοιδορουμενοι ευλογουμεν] Almost the language of Peter about Jesus (1 Peter 2:23) in harmony with the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27. Being persecuted we endure (διωκομενοι ανεχομετα diōkomenoi anechometha). We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul‘s other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here. [source]
1 Corinthians 4:12Being persecuted we endure [διωκομενοι ανεχομετα] We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul‘s other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:4But in everything commending ourselves [αλλ εν παντι συνιστανοντες εαυτους] Paul gives a marvellous summary of his argument about the dignity and glory of ministers of Christ as ministers of God (ως τεου διακονοι hōs theou diakonoi) under three aspects, the first with in (εν en) 2 Corinthians 6:3-7, the second with by (δια dia) 2 Corinthians 6:7,2 Corinthians 6:8, the third with as (ως hōs) 2 Corinthians 6:9-10. The negative view with εν en we have in 2 Corinthians 6:3, then the positive in 2 Corinthians 6:4-7. Each word carries a story that can be filled in from Paul‘s own life as a preacher with an echo in that of us all. [source]
2 Corinthians 8:20That any man should blame us [μη τις ημας μωμησηται] Literally, “lest any one blame us” (negative purpose with μη mē and first aorist middle subjunctive of μωμεομαι mōmeomai See note on 2 Corinthians 6:3, only other N.T. example). Bounty (αδροτητι hadrotēti). Old word from αδρος hadros thick, stout, ripe, rich, great as in 1 Kings 1:9; 2 Kings 10:6. Only here in N.T. [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 6:3 mean?
Nothingbeforeno oneplacingan obstacleso thatnotshould be blemishedtheministry
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:3
Προσκοπη Proskopē late word (Polybius, lxx), from προσκοπτω proskoptō to strike against, to stumble. Only here in N.T. Note double negative in the Greek. [source]
Negative purpose First aorist passive subjunctive of old verb μωμαομαι mōmaomai from μωμος mōmos blot, blemish. One can read with profit J. A. Hutton‘s Warrack Lectures, That the Ministry Be Not Blamed. [source]
Rev., ministration. See on Romans 12:7. [source]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 8:20. The kindred μῶμος blemishis found 2 Peter 2:13, and in the Septuagint of bodily defects. Similarly the Septuagint ἄμωμος spotlesswithout bodily defect; and, in the moral sense, 1 Peter 1:19, applied to Christ. Compare Hebrews 9:14; Ephesians 5:27; Judges 1:24. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:3
Almost the language of Peter about Jesus (1 Peter 2:23) in harmony with the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27. Being persecuted we endure (διωκομενοι ανεχομετα diōkomenoi anechometha). We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul‘s other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here. [source]
We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul‘s other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here. [source]
Paul gives a marvellous summary of his argument about the dignity and glory of ministers of Christ as ministers of God (ως τεου διακονοι hōs theou diakonoi) under three aspects, the first with in (εν en) 2 Corinthians 6:3-7, the second with by (δια dia) 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 6:8, the third with as (ως hōs) 2 Corinthians 6:9-10. The negative view with εν en we have in 2 Corinthians 6:3, then the positive in 2 Corinthians 6:4-7. Each word carries a story that can be filled in from Paul‘s own life as a preacher with an echo in that of us all. [source]
Literally, “lest any one blame us” (negative purpose with μη mē and first aorist middle subjunctive of μωμεομαι mōmeomai See note on 2 Corinthians 6:3, only other N.T. example). Bounty (αδροτητι hadrotēti). Old word from αδρος hadros thick, stout, ripe, rich, great as in 1 Kings 1:9; 2 Kings 10:6. Only here in N.T. [source]