2 Corinthians 6:5
in 2 Corinthians 6in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
KJV
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
⋯
This verse in 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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 this expression, he refers to the fact that he and his fellow-laborers were scourged in the synagogues and cities as if they had been the worst of people. In 2Co 11:23-25, Paul says that he had been scourged five times by the Jews, and had been thrice beaten with rods. See the notes on that place. In imprisonments - As at Philippi; Act 16:24 ff.
This site's exposition
that the ministry be not blamed
on 2 Corinthians 6:3-5
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: Paul turns to his own record as proof of the grace he has just urged them not to waste, and the bench notes the shift from exhortation to autobiography as the pattern the whole letter follows, doctrine defended by a life. But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses opens a catalogue that will run nine items long before it changes register, and verse 5 adds the concrete blows, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. The list reads as the hardship catalogue the letter is famous for, and the exposition treats it as Paul's credentials offered in place of the letters of commendation his rivals carried.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Apostolic ConstitutionsThe Ecclesiastical Canons of the Same Holy Apostles · Written before 380.
proposed
We command that a bishop, or presbyter, or deacon who receives the baptism, or the sacrifice of heretics, be deprived: "For what agreement is there between Christ and Belial? or what part hath a believer with an infidel?"
"In stripes, in imprisonments, in tossings to and fro." Yet every one of these by itself was intolerable, the being scourged only, and being bound only, and being unable through persecution to remain fixed any where, (for this is "in tossings to and fro,") but when both all, and all at once, assail, consider what a soul they need. Then along with the things from without, he mentions those imposed by himself. "In labors, in watchings, in fastings; in pureness." But by "pureness" here, he means either chasteness again, or general purity, or incorruptness, or even his preaching the Gospel freely.
Be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world. If you guard against these things, your fasting will be perfect. And you will do also as follows.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Beatings and imprisonments: see how many evils! Each of them in itself is exceedingly grievous. "In banishments," that is, in persecutions, when someone has no place to stop, being driven from place to place. Having spoken of external hardships, here he speaks of his own, …
Thirdly, he shows in particular the material with which patience is concerned. First, with things that pertain to tribulations which are voluntary, and this as to the soul. Hence, he says, in calamities [distresses], namely of the heart, when we are so beset with tribulations …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
In tumults - The Greek word implies such attacks as a man cannot stand against, but which bear him hither and thither by violence.
Note, [1.] It is the lot of faithful ministers often to be reduced to great difficulties, and to stand in need of much patience. [2.] Those who would approve themselves to God must approve themselves faithful in trouble as well as in peace, not only in doing the work of God diligently, but also in bearing the will of God patiently.
In stripes,.... As the Apostle Paul particularly was, who was thrice beaten with rods, and five times scourged by the Jews with the scourge of forty stripes save one.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Thus "foodlessness" would seem to be the sense (compare 1Co 4:11; But the usual sense of the Greek is fasts, in the strict sense; and in 2Co 11:27 it is spoken of independently of "hunger and thirst." (Compare Lu 2:37; Mr 8:3, justify the sense, more favored by the context, foodlessness, though a rare use of the word.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
In stripes, in imprisonments - Of these the history of the Acts of the Apostles gives ample testimony; and there were doubtless many instances of persecution in various forms which are not on record. In tumults - Ακαταστασιαις· Insurrections raised against them because of the Gospel. It is more natural to understand the word thus, than of agitations, or tossings to and fro in consequence of their unsettled state of life; or because of persecution, which obliged them to flee from place to place. In labors - Both with our own hands to provide for ourselves the necessaries of life, that we might not be chargeable to others; and in labors to spread the Gospel of God through all countries where his providence opened our way. In watchings - Passing many nights without sleep or rest. In fastings - Partly constrained through want of food; and partly voluntary, as a means of obtaining an increase of grace both for ourselves and for the Churches.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πληγαῖς, | plegais | beatings, | G4127 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| φυλακαῖς, | phulakais | imprisonments, | G5438 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀκαταστασίαις, | akatastasiais | riots, | G181 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κόποις, | kopois | labors, | G2873 → | 18 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἀγρυπνίαις, | agrupniais | watchings, | G70 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| νηστείαις, | nesteiais | fastings, | G3521 → |
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
πληγαῖς,beatings,
plegaisG4127 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
φυλακαῖς,imprisonments,
phulakaisG5438 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀκαταστασίαις,riots,
akatastasiaisG181 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κόποις,labors,
kopoisG2873 →18 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἀγρυπνίαις,watchings,
agrupniaisG70 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
νηστείαις,fastings,
nesteiaisG3521 →
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
Hebrews 11:36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 20:2
he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
- Genesis 39:20
So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. While Joseph was there in the prison,
- Jeremiah 37:15–21
The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.
- Jeremiah 20:2
Through
2 Corinthians 11:27in labor and toil and often without sleep, in hunger and thirst and often without food, in cold and exposure.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:12
I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8
nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- Philippians 4:12
Through
Acts 17:5The Jews, however, became jealous. So they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and sent the city into an uproar. They raided Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas,…
it leads to
- Galatians 5:26
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.
- Acts 17:13
But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.
- Galatians 5:26
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Apostolic Constitutions, The Ecclesiastical Canons of the Same Holy Apostles; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Shepherd of Hermas, Shepherd of Hermas, Similitude 5; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Corinthians.