2 Corinthians 6:3
in 2 Corinthians 6We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
KJV
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseFor those who strive after perfection, according to the same apostle, must "give no offence in anything, but in everything approve themselves not to men, but to God."
This site's exposition
no one can discredit our ministry
on 2 Corinthians 6:3-5
Paul turns to his own record, a doctrine defended by a life. The phrase in great endurance heads nine hardships in three groups of three, offered in place of the letters of commendation his rivals carried.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
By his faith and vigilance, Paul is cutting away everything which might cause the negligent to stumble, out of fear that their sluggishness might present his disciples with a cause for stumbling. Fault would have been found with their ministry if they did not exemplify …
And if again we chance to come into a place where there is no consecrated brother, but all are married, all those who are there will receive the brother who comes to them, and minister to him, and care for his wants in everything, assiduously, …
"Giving no occasion of stumbling, that our ministration be not blamed." Persuading them not from considering "the time" only, but also those that had successfully labored with them. And behold with what absence of pride. For he said not, 'Look at us how we are such and such,' but, for the present, it is only to do away accusation that he relates his own conduct. And he mentions two chief points of a blameless life, "none" in "any" thing. And he said not 'accusation,' but, what was far less, "occasion of stumbling;" that is, giving ground against us to none for censure, for condemnation, "that our ministration be not blamed;" that is, that none may take hold of it. And again, he said not, 'that it be not accused,' but that it may not have the least fault, nor any one have it in his power to animadvert upon it in any particular.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, we put no obstacle, he teaches them the way to use grace conferred on them; first, in general, namely, that they not receive it in vain; secondly, in particular (v. 4b). He says therefore: use grace in such a way as …
We exhort, he said, and we assist. In what way? By a blameless life. And by the very course of his narrative he advises them to pay attention to him. For, he says, I so order my life that I give no one occasion—I do …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Note, When others are too apt to take offence, we should be cautious lest we give offence; and ministers especially should be careful lest they do any thing that may bring blame on their ministry or render that unsuccessful. Their constant aim and endeavor in all things to approve themselves faithful, as became the ministers of God,
Giving no offence in anything,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Resuming the connection with 2Co 6:1, interrupted by the parenthetical 2Co 6:2. "Giving no offense" (compare 1Co 10:33), "approving ourselves," and all the other participles down to 2Co 6:10, are nominatives to "we also entreat you" (2Co 6:1), to show the pains he took to enforce his exhortation by example, as well as precept [ALFORD].
Giving no offense - The word προσκοπη, read προσκομμα, Rom 14:13, signifies a stumbling block in general, or any thing over which a man stumbles or falls; and here means any transgression or scandal that might take place among the ministers, or the Christians themselves, whereby either Jews or Gentiles might take occasion of offense, and vilify the Gospel of Christ.
The words behind it
10 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μηδεμίαν | medemian | Nothing | G3367 → | 90 times |
| ἐν | en | before | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| μηδενὶ | medeni | no one | G3367 → | 90 times |
| διδόντες | didontes | placing | G1325 → | 412 times |
| προσκοπήν, | proskopen | an obstacle, | G4349 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| μωμηθῇ | momethea | may be blemished | G3469 → | |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διακονία, | diakonia | ministry, | G1248 → | 34 times |
μηδεμίανNothing
medemianG3367 →90 times
ἐνbefore
enG1722 →2738 times
μηδενὶno one
medeniG3367 →90 times
διδόντεςplacing
didontesG1325 →412 times
προσκοπήν,an obstacle,
proskopenG4349 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
μωμηθῇmay be blemished
mometheaG3469 →
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
διακονία,ministry,
diakoniaG1248 →34 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 9:22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
- Romans 15:1
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- Romans 11:14
in the hope that I may provoke my own people to jealousy and save some of them.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
Through
Romans 14:13Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 8:9–13
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- James 4:11
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of…
- Luke 17:2
It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9–13
Through
Matthew 17:27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 9:19–22
Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19–22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
About 2 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 4; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homilies on Second Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily 12 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Pseudo-Clement, Two Epistles on Virginity; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.