Albert Barnes

For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body.

“For we which live - Those of us, the apostles and ministers of the Redeemer who still survive. James the brother of John had been put to death Act 12:2; and it is probable also that some other of the apostles had been also.”

And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,

“We having the same spirit of faith - The same spirit that is expressed in the quotation which he is about to make; the same faith which the psalmist had. We have the very spirit of faith which is expressed by David.”

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

“For we know - We who are engaged in the work of the gospel ministry. Paul is giving a reason why he and his fellow-laborers did not become weary and faint in their work.”

And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.

“Now he that hath wrought us for the self-same thing - The phrase “self-same thing” here means this very thing, that is, the thing to which he had referred - the preparation for heaven, or the heavenly dwelling.”

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

“For we walk - To walk, in the Scriptures often denotes to live, to act, to conduct in a certain way; see the notes on Rom 4:12; Rom 6:4.”

So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it.

“Wherefore - (Διὸ Dio). In view of the facts stated above. Since we have the prospect of a resurrection and of future glory; since we have the assurance that there is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; and since God has…”

Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.

“Knowing therefore - We who are apostles, and who are appointed to preach the gospel, having the fullest assurance of the terrors of the day of judgment, and of the wrath of God, endeavor to persuade people to be prepared to meet Him, and to…”

If we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

“For whether we be beside ourselves - This is probably designed to meet some of the charges which the false teachers in Corinth brought against him, and to furnish his friends there with a ready answer, as well as to show them the true principles…”

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

“And that he died for all ... - This verse is designed still further to explain the reasons of the conduct of the apostle. He had not lived for himself.”

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ - The phrase to “be in Christ,” evidently means to be united to Christ by faith; or to be in him as the branch is in the vine - that is, so united to the vine, or so…”

that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

“To wit - (Greek, Ὡς ὄτι Hōs oti), namely This verse is designed further to state the nature of the plan of reconciliation, and of the message with which they were entrusted.”

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us - The Greek here is, ‘for him who knew no sin, he hath made sin, or a sin-offering for us.’”

As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

“We then, as workers together with him - On the meaning of this expression, see the note, 1Co 3:9. The Greek here is (συνεργοῦντες sunergountes) “working together,” and may mean either that the apostles and ministers to whom Paul refers were joint-laborers in entreating them…”

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

“Giving no offence in anything - We the ministers of God, 2Co 6:1. The word rendered “offence” means, properly, stumbling; then offence, or cause of offence, a falling into sin.”

in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;

“In stripes - In this verse, Paul proceeds to specifications of what he had been called to endure. In the previous verse, he had spoken of his afflictions in general terms.”

in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

“By the word of truth - That is, by making known the truths of the gospel. It was his object to make known the simple truth.”

as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;

“As unknown - As those who are deemed to be of an obscure and ignoble rank in life, unknown to the great, unknown to fame. The idea, I think, is, that they went as strangers, as persons unknown, in preaching the gospel.”

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide.

“O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you - We speak freely, and fully. This is an affectionate address to them, and has reference to what he had just said.”

As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

“Now for a recompence in the same - “By way of recompence, open your hearts in the same manner toward me as I have done toward you. It is all the reward or compensation which I ask of you; all the return which I desire.”

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

“And what concord - (συμφώνησις sumphōnēsis). Sympathy, unison. This word refers properly to the unison or harmony produced by musical instruments, where there is a chord. What accordance, what unison is there; what strings are there which being struck will produce a chord or harmony?”

“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

“Wherefore - Since you are a special people. Since God, the holy and blessed God, dwells with you and among you. Come out from among them - That is, from among idolaters and unbelievers; from a frivolous and vicious world.”

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

“Having therefore these promises - The promises referred to in 2Co 6:17-18; the promise that God would be a Father, a protector, and a friend The idea is, that as we have a promise that God would dwell in us, that he would be our…”

I do not say this to condemn you. I have said before that you so occupy our hearts that we live and die together with you.

“I speak not this to condemn you - I do not speak this with any desire to reproach you. I do not complain of you for the purpose of condemning, or because I have a desire to find fault, though I am compelled to speak…”

For when we arrived in Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were pressed from every direction—conflicts on the outside, fears within.

“For when we were come into Macedonia - For the reasons which induced Paul to go into Macedonia; see the notes on 2Co 1:16; compare the notes, 2Co 2:12-13. Our flesh had no rest - We were exceedingly distressed and agitated. We had no rest.”

and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you.

“And not by his coming only - Not merely by the fact that be was restored to me, and that my anxieties in regard to him were now dissipated.”