2 Corinthians 6:1
in 2 Corinthians 6As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain
KJV
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary
14 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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 not to receive the grace of God in vain; or it may mean that they cooperated with God, or were engaged with him in endeavoring to secure the reconciliation of the world to himself. Tyndale renders it: “we as helpers.” Doddridge, “we then as the joint-laborers of God.” Most expositors have concurred in this interpretation.
This site's exposition
As God’s fellow workers
on 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Verse 2 applies Isaiah 49:8, the prophet’s word to the Servant, to the gospel hour: In the time of favor I heard you. The doubled now, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation, allows no delay.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
What does it mean to receive the grace of God in vain except to be unwilling to perform good works with the help of his grace?
For since he said, God beseeches, and we are ambassadors and suppliants unto you, that ye be "reconciled unto God:" lest they should become supine, he hereby again alarms and arouses them, saying: "We intreat that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." 'For let us not,' he says, 'therefore be at ease, because He beseeches and hath sent some to be ambassadors; nay, but for this very reason let us make haste to please God and to collect spiritual merchandise;' as also he said above, "The love of God constraineth us," (ch. v. 14) that is presseth, driveth, urgeth us, 'that ye may not after so much affectionate care, by being supine and exhibiting no nobleness, miss of such great blessings. Do not therefore because He hath sent some to exhort you, deem that this will always be so. It will be so until His second coming; until then He beseeches, so long as we are here; but after that is judgment and punishment.' Therefore, he says, "we are constrained."
For lest they should think that this of itself is "reconciliation," believing on Him that calleth; he adds these words, requiting that earnestness which respects the life. For, for one who hath been freed from sins and made a friend to wallow in the former things, is to return again unto enmity, and to "receive the grace in vain," in respect of the life. For from "the grace" we reap no benefit towards salvation, if we live impurely; nay, we are even harmed, having this greater aggravation even of our sins, in that after such knowledge and such a gift we have gone back to our former vices. This however he does not mention as yet: that he may not make his work harsh, but says only that we reap no benefit.
That man, indeed, is in danger who does not throughout his whole life place before himself the will of God as his goal, so that in health he shows forth the labor of love by his zeal for the works of the Lord and in sickness displays endurance and cheerful patience. The first and greatest peril is that by not doing the will of God, he separates himself from the Lord and cuts himself off from fellowship with his own brothers; secondly, that he ventures, although undeserving, to claim a share in the blessings prepared for those who are worthy.
The Medieval Church1 voice
We, he says, work together both with you and with God: with you, so that you may be saved, and with God, so that His will may be fulfilled, that is, concerning your salvation. "We beseech" on behalf of Christ, even until His second coming, …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Grace is more necessary for us than the Law; to receive which grace fruitfully, our mother the Church and the Apostle Paul exhort us. The Apostle Paul in this brief word rouses us to receive divine grace, to guard the grace received, and to multiply …
Having commended the ministry of the apostleship, the Apostle now carries out the ministry entrusted to him for the benefit of his subjects. In regard to this he does two things. First, he exhorts them in general to do all the things that are commonly …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We then not only beseech, but as fellow-labourers with you, who are working out your own salvation, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God - Which we have been now describing. In vain - We receive it by faith; and not in vain, if we add to this, persevering holiness.
The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears; but it will be in vain for us to hear it, unless we believe it, and comply with the end and design of it. And as it is the duty of the ministers of the gospel to exhort and persuade their hearers to accept of grace and mercy which are offered to them, so they are honoured with this high title of co-workers with God.
We then, as workers together with him,.... The ministers of the Gospel are workers or labourers; their ministry is a work, and a very laborious one, which none have strength equal to, and are sufficient for; of themselves: it is a work that requires faithfulness and diligence, is honourable; and those who perform it aright deserve respect.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Not only as "ambassadors." beseech--entreat (2Co 5:20). He is describing his ministry, not exhorting directly. you also--rather, "WE ALSO (as well as God, 2Co 5:20) beseech" or "entreat you": 2Co 6:14, 15, on to 2Co 7:1, is part of this entreaty or exhortation. in vain--by making the grace of God a ground for continuance in sin (2Co 6:3).
We then, as workers together with him - Συνεργουντες δε και παρακαλουμεν. The two last words, with him, are not in the text, and some supply the place thus: we then, as workers together With You, and the Armenian version seems to have read it so; but no MS. has this reading, and no other version. For my own part I see nothing wanting in the text if we only suppose the term apostles; we, (i.e. apostles), being fellow workers, also entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain. By the grace of God, την χαριν του Θεου, this grace or benefit of God, the apostle certainly means the grand sacrificial offering of Christ for the sin of the world, which he had just before mentioned in speaking of the ministry of reconciliation. We learn, therefore, that it was possible to receive the grace of God and not ultimately benefit by it; or, in other words, to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh. Should any one say that it is the ministry of reconciliation, that is, the benefit of apostolic preaching, that they might receive in vain; I answer, that the apostolic preaching, and the whole ministry of reconciliation, could be no benefit to any man farther than it might have been a means of conveying to him the salvation of God. And it is most evident that the apostle has in view that grace or benefit that reconciles us to God, and makes us Divinely righteous. And this, and all other benefits of the death of Christ, may be received in vain.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Συνεργοῦντες | sunergountes | Working together | G4903 → | |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρακαλοῦμεν | parakaloumen | we exhort | G3870 → | 108 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| κενὸν | kenon | vain | G2756 → | |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χάριν | charin | grace | G5485 → | 153 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| δέξασθαι | dexasthai | to receive | G1209 → | 56 times |
| ὑμᾶς· | humas | you; | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ΣυνεργοῦντεςWorking together
sunergountesG4903 →
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρακαλοῦμενwe exhort
parakaloumenG3870 →108 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
κενὸνvain
kenonG2756 →
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
χάρινgrace
charinG5485 →153 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
δέξασθαιto receive
dexasthaiG1209 →56 times
ὑμᾶς·you;
humasG4771 →2973 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 Peter 4:10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
it leads to
- Romans 12:6–8
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
- 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 4:1–2
So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Romans 12:6–8
Through
1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20–22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Peter 2:5
Through
Galatians 2:21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
it leads to
- Romans 11:6
And if it is by grace, then it is no longer by works. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace.
- Romans 11:6
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 Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Basil of Caesarea, THE LONG RULES 34; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 1; Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 126.5; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily 12 on 2 Corinthians; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.