2 Corinthians 6:9
in 2 Corinthians 6as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
KJV
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
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This verse in 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary
12 notes on this verse"We are unknown, yet we are recognized": for some they were respected and well-known, while for others they were not even worthy of being known. This corresponds to what was said: "in honor and dishonor." "They regard us as dead, but behold, we are alive": …
This site's exposition
as deceivers, and yet true
on 2 Corinthians 6:8-10
By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true: the catalogue turns paradoxical, nine antitheses in three verses, and the bench reads the form itself as argument, a ministry proved genuine precisely by how the world's opposite verdicts fail to touch it. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed continues the pattern through mortal danger survived again and again, and verse 10 closes on the note the letter keeps returning to, as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. The exposition names the last line as the same strength in weakness thread that runs from the sentence of death in chapter 1 to the thorn in chapter 12, joy and poverty and possession held together without contradiction because their source is Christ and not circumstance.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Those who hated the apostles thought that they were dying every day of their lives as the price for their wickedness. But because the apostles were preaching with God's approval, they kept being rescued from death by the help of Christ.
"As unknown, and yet well known." This is, "by glory and dishonor." For by some they were well known and much sought after, whilst others designed not to know them at all. "As dying, and behold, we live." As under sentence of death and condemned; which was itself also matter of dishonor. But this he said, to show both the unspeakable power of God and their own patience. For so far as those who plotted against us were concerned, we died; and this is what all suppose; but by God's aid we escaped the dangers. Then to manifest also on what account God permits these things, he added, "As chastened, and not killed." Showing that the gain accruing to them from their temptations, even before the rewards, was great, and that their enemies against their will did them service.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he discusses the things which pertain to the concupiscence of the flesh and mentions three things which the flesh desires: first, it desires a long life; as to this he says, as dying, i.e., although we are exposed to the dangers of death: "And …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
As unknown, and yet well known,.... Not unknown to Father, Son, and Spirit, or to one another, but to the world; and that not with respect to their outward estate, but their spiritual and eternal state; as that they were the chosen of God, the children of God, and born again; they knew not what a life they lived, or what they lived upon; and as they were unacquainted with their inward troubles, they were strangers to their spiritual joys here, and to what they shall partake of hereafter.
As unknown - For the world knoweth us not, as it knew him not. Yet well known - To God, and to those who are the seals of our ministry. As dying, yet behold - Suddenly, unexpectedly, God interposes, and we live.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Such a paradox is a Christian's life, and through such a variety of conditions and reports lies our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all these things to approve ourselves to God. Cautions against Mingling with Unbelievers. 11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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. Yet, though thus unknown they endeavor to commend themselves as the ministers of God. Though among strangers; though having no introduction from the great and the noble, yet they endeavored so to act as to convince the world that they were the ministers of God.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
unknown . . . yet well known--"unknown" in our true character to those who "evil report" of us, "well known" to those who hold us in "good report" (2Co 6:8). CONYBEARE explains, "Unknown by men, yet acknowledged by God" (1Co 13:12). Perhaps both God and men (believers) are intended as knowing him (2Co 5:11;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
As unknown - Persons who are to be suspected as harbouring dark designs; persons of neither birth, parentage, nor respectable connections in life; And yet well known - Proved by our whole conduct to have no such designs, and demonstrated to be holy, upright, and useful, by the whole train of our peregrinations, through which we can be readily traced from place to place; having preached openly, and done nothing in a corner. As dying - Through continual dangers, fatigues, and persecutions; And, behold, we live - We are preserved by the mighty power of God in the greatest dangers and deaths. As chastened - As though we were disobedient children; And not killed - Though we continue in the very same line of conduct that is supposed to bring on us those chastisements, and which, if it were criminal, would justly expose us to death for incorrigible obstinacy; but our preservation is a proof that we please God.
Modern Voices1 voice
"Since when?" he asked. "Since you were born?" "Yes," said the old man, and sank shaking into a chair. "I have been always dying." Mr. Dickens took off his hat with a flourish like a man calling a mob to rise. "I understand it now," …
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀγνοούμενοι | agnooumenoi | being unknown | G50 → | 22 times |
| καὶ | kai | and yet | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι, | epiginoskomenoi | being well-known, | G1921 → | 44 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ἀποθνῄσκοντες | apothneskontes | dying | G599 → | 110 times |
| καὶ | kai | and yet | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ζῶμεν, | zomen | we live, | G2198 → | 139 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| παιδευόμενοι | paideuomenoi | being disciplined | G3811 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and yet | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| θανατούμενοι, | thanatoumenoi | being killed, | G2289 → |
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀγνοούμενοιbeing unknown
agnooumenoiG50 →22 times
καὶand yet
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι,being well-known,
epiginoskomenoiG1921 →44 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ἀποθνῄσκοντεςdying
apothneskontesG599 →110 times
καὶand yet
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰδοὺbehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ζῶμεν,we live,
zomenG2198 →139 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
παιδευόμενοιbeing disciplined
paideuomenoiG3811 →
καὶand yet
kaiG2532 →9120 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
θανατούμενοι,being killed,
thanatoumenoiG2289 →
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
Romans 8:36As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
it leads to
- Psalms 44:22
Yet for Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
- Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…
- 1 Corinthians 15:30
And why do we endanger ourselves every hour?
- 2 Corinthians 4:10–11
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Acts 8:32
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- Psalms 44:22
Through
2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3–5
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11
Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
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); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the Second Epistle to the Corinthians; Charles Spurgeon, My Grace Is Sufficient (and the 2 Corinthians sermons); GK Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles, XXXVII. The Shop of Ghosts (1909); 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.