2 Coríntios 6
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Coríntios 6
MacArthur - Some understand that in this verse Paul is addressing the Corinthians and encouraging them to make full use of the grace that had been shown to them. (ED: REFERRING TO WORK OF GRACE IN PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION) We rather think that Paul is still giving an account of the message which he preached to the unsaved. He has already told unbelievers of the marvelous grace which has been offered to them by God. Now he further begs them not to receive such grace in vain. They should not allow the seed of the gospel to fall in barren soil. Rather they should respond to such a marvelous message by receiving the Savior of whom it tells. (Believer's Bible Commentary) Pulpit Commentary on grace of God in vain -The grace of God. To announce this is the chief aim of the gospel (Acts 13:43+; Acts 20:24+). In vain; that is, "without effect." You must not only accept the teaching of God's Word, but must see that it produces adequate moral results. It must not, so to speak, fall "into a vacuum (eis kenon)."....If you really are in Christ you must show that you have thereby become "a new creation" (2Co 5:17). The branches of the true Vine must bear fruit (cf Jn 15:5, 8). (For the phrase, "in vain," see Galatians 2:2+; Philippians 2:16+.) What the grace of God is meant to effect is sketched in Titus 2:11-12+. (2 Corinthians 6) Homer Kent on the grace of God in vain - Paul was concerned lest any true believers, ones who had received the saving grace of God, should falter in their Christian lives, and at the judgment seat of Christ would be found empty (cf. 2Co 5:10+). There was also the possibility that some readers might have superficially accepted the gospel, as illustrated by the varying responses in the parable of the sower (Mt. 13:3–9, 18–23+), and would someday find it of no value. A T
2 Coríntios 6
MacArthur adds that "Messiah is represented as asking for the grace of God to be given to sinners. God gives His favorable answer in a time of grace (cf. Isa 61:1) when salvation's day comes to the world (cf. Gal 4:4, 5; Heb 4:7). At His appointed time in the future, the Lord will, by His Servant, accomplish the final deliverance of Israel. Paul applied these words to his ministry of proclaiming the gospel of God's grace to all people (2Co 6:2)." (MacArthur Study Bible) Psalm 95:7-8 For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, Hebrews 3:7; 13 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE....But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 4:7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” Luke 4:19+ TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE (ACCEPTABLE) YEAR OF THE LORD.” John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. John 9:4 “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. PAUL'S REMINDER THE BEST TIME IS "NOW!" For (gar) is explanatory. Stop and ask "What is Paul explaining?" Paul is explaining why the Corinthians should not receive the grace of God in vain. The reason they need to act now is because the time is acceptable, but the time (day) will not last forever and thus must be "seized," so to speak. Kruse on Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 49:8 - "In their original context these words are addressed to the Servant of the Lord and applied to the time of Israel’s release from exile in Babylon." (Full text of Tyndale NT Commentary -2 Corinthians) Henry Morris on Paul's quote - Cited from Isaiah 49:8. This application stresses the urgency of accepting God's grace and salvation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20-21) without delay. Note also Proverbs 27:1; James 4:13, 14+. (Defender's Study Bible) Wayne
2 Coríntios 6
MacArthur - Paul emphasized his point by quoting Isa 49:8. He was passionately concerned that the Corinthians adhere to the truth because it was God's time to save and they were messengers for helping to spread that message. now is "the day of salvation." Paul applied Isaiah's words to the present situation. There is a time in God's economy when He listens to sinners and responds to those who are repentant—and it was and is that time (cf. Pr 1:20-23; Isa 55:6; Heb 3:7, 8; 4:7). However, there will also be an end to that time (cf. Ge 6:3; Pr 1:24-33; Jn 9:4), which is why Paul's exhortation was so passionate. (MacArthur Study Bible) He says (present tense - continually), "AT THE ACCEPTABLE (dektos) TIME (kairos) I LISTENED (aorist tense - point in time in past) TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION (soteria) I HELPED (boetheo - aorist - point in time in past) YOU." - Says is in the present tense, He continually says meaning the following truth is relevant for all times and should serve as a continual reminder to the Corinthians of the day when God saved them. It is good for all of us to remember the day we were saved by grace through faith! In the original context Isaiah's prophecy was for all peoples, Jews and Gentiles. Acceptable time in Isaiah 49:8 applied to Messiah, but in the current context the acceptable time is the day when the saints at Corinth were saved by the Gospel. Notice that Paul "defines" the acceptable time as the day of salvation. Helped implies that in the past the Corinthians had cried out for Jesus to come to their aid and He did exactly that, rescuing and delivering them from eternal death and giving them eternal life in Christ (2Co 5:17+) on their day of salvation. Wayne Barber picks up on and explains the use of acceptable (dektos) to help understand what Paul was saying in quoting Isaiah 49:8. Make sure you get the picture...Isaiah 49:6 ("He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”) (God the Father) talks about His Servant, Who is Christ (MESSIAH), Who is not just going to bring salvation to Israel (ED: IN THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT THIS WAS FIRST SPEAKING OF DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL FROM THEIR EXILE IN BABYLON. THIS HAPPENED AFTER 70 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY.) but to all the nations of the world (ED: SEE PHRASE "LIGHT OF THE NATIONS" MEANING GENTILE NATIONS). In Isa 49:6, “He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel.”’ That’s too small of a thing. It is much bigger than that, “I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Salvation will come to all the nations but at great price and cost to the Servant, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 49:7, “thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and its Holy One, to the despised One, the One abhorred by the nation (ISRAEL - cf Jn 1:11), to the Servant of rulers, kings shall see and arise, princes shall also bow down; because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel Who has chosen You.” And then in Isaiah 49:8 Isaiah says (WAYNE PARAPHRASES IT) “but this salvation will be at an acceptable time.” (ED: NOW SPEAKING AS IF GOD HIMSELF WERE SPEAKING WAYNE SAYS) Just like I have always been at the right time to rescue you and to deliver you, there will be a future deliverance and it will come at the right time. Isaiah 49:8, “Thus says the Lord, ‘In a favorable time I have answered You, and in a day of salvation I have helped You; and I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages.’” But what you (ED: PAUL SPEAKING TO THE CORINTHIANS) have got to see is beyond that (ED: ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE FROM BABYLON). There’s coming a day of great salvation, greater than this deliverance from their captivity, greater than anything else, it’s going to be their spiritual salvation and it will come at the right time, a favorable time. (ED: AT GOD'S APPOINTED TIME IN THE FUTURE GOD WOULD BY HIS SERVANT YESHUA ACCOMPLISH THE FINAL DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL. PAUL APPLIED THIS PROPHETIC PROMISE TO HIS MINISTRY OF PROCLAIMING THE WORD OF RECONCILIATION, THE GOSPEL OF GRACE HERE IN 2Co 6:2.) Now the Lord Jesus picked up on that term and, oh, if you’re not excited yet, strap your seat belts on. In Luke 4:16-21 Jesus does an amazing thing. Verse 16 says, “And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.” Now, wonder what the Son of God is going to read? Think He knows the Word? Verse 17, “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written”—the word “found” means He knew exactly where it was, just turned right to it. He knew exactly what He was doing—‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’” That acceptable time; that acceptable time. “And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today the Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” The time is here: now is the acceptable time. Now is the favorable time. Paul picks up on this promise and what he’s trying to tell them is really simple but you have to go around the block to make sure everybody understands. He’s trying to say, “You are living in that favorable time. Salvation is not going to come through the Law like the false teachers talk about. It’s going to come through Jesus Christ; only through the Servant that will die for you.” He wants them to pay attention to the fact that they’re living in that favorable time. The window of salvation by grace is wide open to both Jew and to Gentile. The false teachers were still trying to get the Corinthians to go back up under law and he said, “Don’t you do that! Don’t you do that.” Just like he said to the Galatians, “Don’t you receive the grace of God in vain. If you go back to the Law, that’s your flesh, that’s your performance and it will never produce anything. It’ll be vain; it’ll be void. It will end up empty at the judgment seat of Christ. Be fruitful in the acceptable time. Live out the grace that God has put within you.” Paul is pressing them to realize the urgency of the time in which they lived. You know, folks, this is what excites me about it. We’re still living in that favorable time. How do you know? Because He hasn’t ended it yet—when He comes back for His church. We’re still on this earth, and I’ll tell you what, think about for a second the people that you know right now that don’t know Christ. And you think, “I can’t ever do anything there.” And God says, “Listen, I’m the One who takes care of persuading men, but I want you to be My ambassador. I want you to be enabled by My grace. I want you to be a vessel so that while you’re here on this earth, in this season, in this opportunity, don’t squander it, don’t throw it away. Let it be fruitful.” Be fruitful; let Christ in you bring about that which He would say is success, when people are persuaded of their reconciliation to God. And I believe God is saying to us in the 21st century to be fruitful, fruitful. Don’t play around with this message of grace. You’re here for a time; be useable to God in that time. And that’s going to affect our evangelism in this city and this state, that’s going to affect our missions around the world, that’s going to affect our giving, that’s going to affect everything that we do because we’re not here for any other reason. We’re strangers just passing through. God says, “I want to use you while you’re here. Stop squabbling, stop being unreconciled to each other and get busy about what I have put you on this earth to be.” That’s what He’s saying to us, folks. Don’t receive the grace of God in vain. How can we be reconcilers of men if we can’t even be reconciled to each other? You see the point? So there’s caution. Why is there caution? Because there is a window of opportunity and Paul does not want them to squander the grace that has been so beautifully to them. Don’t receive the grace of God in vain for now is the day of salvation, now is the acceptable time. (2 Corinthians 6:1-4a What is Involved in Working Together With God) Behold (idou) now (nun) is "THE ACCEPTABLE (euprosdektos) TIME," behold (idou) now (nun) is "THE DAY OF SALVATION (soteria)"- While this phrase is similar to the phrase discussed above which was their day of salvation, the difference is Paul adds two attention getting words Behold (idou) and now (nun). Using the interjection behold, Paul is commanding them to "Listen up" because what he is about to say is very significant. He amplifies the importance of the statement by using the adverb now (nun) in an attempt to stimulate the Corinthians to focus on the moment, the idea being that "NOW is the time," so they must give attention and do not miss what he was about to say. The tenor of Paul's words convey as sense of urgency. By changing the Greek word for acceptable from dektos to euprosdektos Paul is saying this time now is "super acceptable" (so to speak), this different word for acceptable emphasizing the thought that you don't want to miss this acceptable or favorable time! Paul had a heart of passion for his flock at Corinth. Charles Simeon was such a man as testified by one of the obituaries after he fell asleep in Jesus - "And after having urged all his hearers to accept the proffered mercy, he reminded them that there were those present to whom he had preached Christ for more than thirty years, but they continued indifferent to the Saviour’s love; and pursuing this train of expostulation for some time, he at length became quite overpowered by his feeling, and he sank down in the pulpit and burst into a flood of tears." Wickham comments that now "(nun; cf. its use in Eph 3:5, 10; Heb 12:26; 2Pe 3:7) ends when the Gospel age is finished (cf Heb 9:26-28). (ED: OF COURSE WICKHAM IS REFERRING TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE DAY OF SALVATION. THE DOOR OF SALVATION IS OPEN IN THIS AGE, THE CHURCH AGE, BUT THE DOOR WILL CLOSE EVENTUALLY - SEE RELATED DISCUSSION.) Wayne
2 Coríntios 6
MacArthur writes, “A minister is not commended by his seminary degree, theology, popularity, personality, or success. His life is the only letter of commendation that matters, the only one that people will read.” Commending (demonstrate) (4921) sunistemi/sunistao from sún = together with + hístemi = set, place, stand) means literally to set, place or put together. To set in the same place, this literal meaning being found in Luke 9:32 (below). To bring together. When one brings together a person with another person, it is a way of presenting or introducing them. This gives sunistemi the meaning of commend, which means to recommend as worthy of confidence (the implication being that others adopt a similar attitude) or to present to one’s acquaintance for favorable notice. (9/16 NT uses) BDAG says the idea is "to provide evidence of a personal characteristic or claim through action". Henry Morris on everything ("all things") - The "all things" which Paul enumerates in these verses as characteristic of true ministers (that is, "servants") of Christ comprise a remarkable complex of three ninefold descriptors. First (2 Corinthians 6:4-5) are listed nine "negative" experiences which the servant must be willing to endure graciously. Then there are nine "positive" attributes which he should exhibit (2 Corinthians 6:6-7). Finally, there are nine paradoxes that characterize such a minister (2 Corinthians 6:8-10), displaying simultaneously the joys of life in Christ and the exigencies of living in the world as His servant. (Defender's Study Bible) Arthur on 2Co 6:4-10 - These were the marks of Paul's covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, whose followers he once persecuted. (Our Covenant God). In much endurance (hupomone - patience, great endurance), in afflictions (thlipsis troubling, pressing situations, tribulations - fate of all saints = Acts 14:22+), in hardships (anagke), in distresses (stenochoria - difficulties, extreme pressure, literally "narrowness of space") - Note the repeated preposition "in" (Greek - en) which functions as a locative of sphere, as if Paul is surrounded by, immersed in each of these negative circumstances. Note also the last three circumstance are in the plural so that these were not "one and done" situations for Paul but were an integral, intimate component of his ministry experiences! The first, endurance is about remaining steadfast under adverse circumstances compared to patience (see makrothumia below) which is more about putting up with "adverse" people. Stedman makes the important observation that "The key word to the first group is "endurance (hupomone)." It means far more than simply toughing it out. Even a non-Christian can endure hardness in that sense and some take great pride in their ability to do so. Athletes, marines, commandos, frontiersmen, and others often glory in their ability to confront hardship with fortitude and endurance. But this is not merely a reference to passive resignation which is content to wait with bowed head till the troubles have run their course. The Greek word used here, hupomone , goes far beyond that. Rather, it is the courageous triumph which takes all the pressure and emerges with a cheer! It not only refuses to be broken by the pressure but is actually grateful for the opportunity to endure, knowing it will bring glory to God. (ED: PONDER THAT DESCRIPTION - CLEARLY THAT IS SUPERNATURALLY ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT AND IS NOT A MANIFESTATION OF "NATURAL" STRENGTH) "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name" (Acts 5:41+). Paul endured triumphantly everything on his list, and often many times over. There were "afflictions" or, literally, "distresses." There were pressures that bore heavily upon his spirit--cares and intense anxieties that seldom let up in his life. There were "hardships"--the inescapable discomforts of life. And there were "calamities," or to be more exact, "strictures," narrow places which seem to close one in on every side, offering no escape. In each of these circumstances the triumphant endurance produced by the new covenant commends Paul to those who are watching his life. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 Sensible Fanaticis) Paul appeals to these manifold hardships to commend his ministry in recognition that he was a follower of the perfect Servant of God, the Suffering Servant, and as a follower of Christ, would share his fate for "“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master." (Mt. 10:24+; cf. Acts 20:19+). Christ had forewarned (forewarned is forearmed) His followers that they would have much to endure, and fortified them with truth (cf Pr 30:5) “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured (hupomeno) to the end who will be saved (THEY WOULD ENDURE BECAUSE THE SPIRIT WOULD ENABLE THEM!)." (Mt. 10:22+). Paul had already alluded to afflictions (thlipsis) 4 times in this letter - 2Co. 1:4; 2Co. 1:8; 2Co. 2:4; 2Co. 4:17 (see below). In 2Co 4:8 he said they were "afflicted (related verb thlibo) but not crushed." Paul was enabled (supernaturally) to experience afflictions because he viewed them with a 20/20 eternal perspective (aka "vertical vision") firmly believing the trials and afflictions were producing for him an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (hyperbole eis hyperbole! - see 2Co 4:17-18+). Not only was he looking to the future but was looking back (so to speak), having been forewarned making him "forearmed" (so to speak), Dr Luke recording "that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions (thlipsis) await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:23-24+, cf Acts 9:15+ and Paul's testimony with his last words - 2Ti 4:7+ "I have finished the course") Paul had a similar attitude toward hardships and distresses, later writing in this same letter "I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses (anagke), with persecutions, with difficulties (stenochoria), for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2Co. 12:10+) Paul came to understand God's higher purpose for his hardships in ministry. Paul also knew that none of his manifold difficulties (distresses) could "separate (him) from the love of Christ." (Ro 8:35+). Regarding distresses Paul used a the verb form of stenochoria earlier writing that they were "afflicted (thlibo) in every way, but not crushed (stenochoreo); perplexed, but not despairing." (2Co 4:8) Endurance (5281) hupomone from hupo = under + meno = stay, remain, abide; related verb hupomeno) literally means abiding under. The root idea of hupomone is to remain under some discipline, subjecting one’s self to something which demands the submission of one's will to something against which one naturally would rebel. It portrays a picture of steadfastly and unflinchingly bearing up under a heavy load and describes that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. The picture is that of steadfastness, constancy and endurance. It has in it a forward look, the ability to focus on what is beyond the current pressures (eg Jesus "Who for the joy set before Him endured [verb form hupomeno] the Cross despising the shame" see notes on Hebrews 12:2). And so hupomone does not describe a grim resignation or a passive "grin and bear" attitude but a triumphant facing of difficult circumstances knowing that even out of evil God guarantees good. It is courageous gallantry which accepts suffering and hardship and turns them into grace and glory. For believers, it is a steadfastness, especially as God enables us to "remain under" (or endure) whatever challenges, trials, tests, afflictions, etc, He providentially allows in our life.