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Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

2 Corinthians 6:7

by speaking the truth, and by depending on God's power. This right way of living has prepared us to defend ourselves against every kind of attack.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Armor;   Gospel;   Minister, Christian;   Power;   Resignation;   Truth;   War;   Zeal, Religious;   Scofield Reference Index - World-System;   Thompson Chain Reference - Armour;   Battle of Life;   Leaders;   Ministers;   Religious;   Spiritual;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflicted Saints;   Arms, Military;   Power of God, the;   Righteousness;   Roman Empire, the;   Truth;   Warfare of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Weapons;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Righteousness;   Wealth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Persecution in the Bible;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Evil;   Power Powers;   Righteousness;   Word;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Armour;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Armor;   Corinthians, Second Epistle to the;   Hand;   Left;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
by the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
King James Version (1611)
By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse, on the right hand, and on the left,
King James Version
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
English Standard Version
by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
New American Standard Bible
in the word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
New Century Version
by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.
Amplified Bible
in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend],
New American Standard Bible (1995)
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
Legacy Standard Bible
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
Berean Standard Bible
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
Contemporary English Version
We have spoken the truth, and God's power has worked in us. In all our struggles we have said and done only what is right.
Complete Jewish Bible
and truthfulness of speech; and by God's power. We commend ourselves through our use of righteous weapons, whether for pressing our cause or defending it;
Darby Translation
in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,
Geneva Bible (1587)
By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left,
George Lamsa Translation
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Good News Translation
by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.
Lexham English Bible
in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,
Literal Translation
in the Word of truth, in the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
American Standard Version
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Bible in Basic English
In the true word, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Hebrew Names Version
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
International Standard Version
truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands;1 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 7:14; 10:4; Ephesians 6:11,13; 2 Timothy 4:7;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
by the doctrine of truth, by the power of Aloha, by the arms of righteousness for the right hand and for the left,
Murdock Translation
by the speaking of truth, by the energy of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left;
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In the worde of trueth, in the power of God, by the armour of righteousnes, of the ryght hande and on the lefte,
English Revised Version
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
World English Bible
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right-hand and the left:
Weymouth's New Testament
by the proclamation of the truth, by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness, wielded in both hands;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
in charite not feined, in the word of treuthe, in the vertu of God; bi armeris of riytwisnesse on the riythalf and on the lefthalf;
Update Bible Version
in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Webster's Bible Translation
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
New English Translation
by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,
New King James Version
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
New Living Translation
We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
New Life Bible
We have spoken the truth. We have God's power. We have the sword of being right with God in the right hand and in the left hand.
New Revised Standard
truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
in love unfeigned, in discourse of truth, in power of God; through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and left,
Douay-Rheims Bible
In the word of truth, in the power of God: by the armour of justice on the right hand and on the left:
Revised Standard Version
truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
in ye wordes of trueth in the power of God by ye armoure of rightewesnes on ye right honde and on the lyfte
Young's Literal Translation
in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
in the worde of the trueth, in the power of God, by the armoure of righteousnes on the rightehande and on the lefte,
Mace New Testament (1729)
by the preaching of truth, by the power of God, by the arms of justice, both offensive and defensive.
Simplified Cowboy Version
We speak nothing but the truth and depend a hundred percent on God's power instead of our own. When you live this way—like a cowboy should—you are prepared for any kind of attack.

Contextual Overview

1 We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don't let the grace that you received from God be for nothing. 2 God says, "I heard you at the right time, and I gave you help on the day of salvation." I tell you that the "right time" is now. The "day of salvation" is now. 3 We don't want people to find anything wrong with our work. So we do nothing that will be a problem to others. 4 But in every way we show that we are servants of God. We never give up, even though we face troubles, difficulties, and problems of every kind. 5 We are beaten and thrown into prison. People get upset at us and fight against us. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. 6 We show that we are God's servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, 7 by speaking the truth, and by depending on God's power. This right way of living has prepared us to defend ourselves against every kind of attack. 8 Some people honor us, but others shame us. Some people say good things about us, but others say bad things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. 9 To some people we are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but look! We continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. 10 We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the word: 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 7:14, Psalms 119:43, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:21, Colossians 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:15, James 1:18

the power: 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 2 Corinthians 13:4, Mark 16:20, Acts 11:21, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 2:4, 1 Corinthians 2:5, Ephesians 1:19, Ephesians 1:20, Ephesians 3:20, Hebrews 2:4

the armour: Isaiah 11:5, Isaiah 59:17, Romans 13:12, Romans 13:13, Ephesians 6:11, Ephesians 6:13, Ephesians 6:14-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Timothy 4:7

on the right: Exodus 14:22, Proverbs 3:16

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:23 - to perform the service Nehemiah 4:17 - with one Job 29:14 - I put Zechariah 12:6 - on the right John 18:11 - Put Philippians 4:10 - ye lacked 1 Timothy 3:15 - the truth 1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight 2 Timothy 1:8 - according

Cross-References

Genesis 6:1
The number of people on earth continued to increase. When these people had daughters, the sons of God saw how beautiful they were. So they chose the women they wanted. They married them, and the women had their children. Then the Lord said, "People are only human. I will not let my Spirit be troubled by them forever. I will let them live only 120 years." During this time and also later, the Nephilim people lived in the land. They have been famous as powerful soldiers since ancient times.
Genesis 6:20
Two of every kind of bird, animal, and creeping thing will come to you so that you might keep them alive.
Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything God commanded him.
Psalms 37:20
But evil people are the Lord 's enemies, and they will be destroyed. Their valleys will dry up and burn. They will be destroyed completely.
Proverbs 10:27
Respect for the Lord will add years to your life, but the wicked will have their lives cut short.
Proverbs 16:4
The Lord has a plan for everything. In his plan, the wicked will be destroyed.
Hosea 4:3
So the country is like someone crying for the dead, and all of its people are weak. Even the animals of the field, the birds of the sky, and the fish in the sea are dying.
Zephaniah 1:3
I will destroy all the people and all the animals. I will destroy the birds in the air and the fish in the sea. I will destroy the evil people and everything that makes them sin. I will remove all people from the earth." This is what the Lord said.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

By the word of truth,.... By preaching the Gospel, truly, sincerely, without any adulteration of it, which comes from the God of truth, has for its subject matter Christ, who is the truth, and into which ministers are guided by the Spirit of truth, and every doctrine of which is truth:

by the power of God; accompanying the word to the conversion and salvation of multitudes of souls; or by the signs, wonders, and miracles which were wrought for the confirmation of it:

by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left: meaning, either the whole armour of God, with which a Christian is all over clothed from head to foot, and in the strength of Christ may engage any adversary without fear; or else particularly the sword of the Spirit in the right hand, and the shield of faith in the left, whereby both the offensive and defensive part may be acted; or, as others think, uprightness of conscience, and holiness of life and conversation; with which being blessed, though on the one hand he meets with prosperity, and on the other hand with adversity, he is not lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other; he is moved by neither, but passes on unconcerned.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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. He did not corrupt it by false mixtures of philosophy and human wisdom, but communicated it as it had been revealed to him. The object of the appointment of the Christian ministry is to make known the truth, and when that is done it cannot but be that they will commend their office and work to the favorable regards of people.

By the power of God - By the divine power which attended the preaching of the gospel. Most of the ancient commentators explain this of the power of working miracles - Bloomfield. But it probably includes all the displays of divine power which attended the propagation of the gospel, whether in the working of miracles, or in the conversion of people. If it be asked how Paul used this power so as to give no offence in the work of the ministry, it may be replied, that the miraculous endowments bestowed upon the apostles, the power of speaking foreign languages, etc., seem to have been bestowed upon them to be employed in the same way as were their natural faculties; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:32. The idea here is, that they used the great powers entrusted to them by God, not as impostors would have done, for the purposes of gain and ambition, or for vain display, but solely for the furtherance of the true religion, and the salvation of people. They thus showed that they were sent from God, as well by the nature of the powers with which they were entrusted, as by the manner in which they used them.

By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left - Interpreters bare varied much in the exposition of this passage; and many have run into utter wildness. Grotius says, that it refers to the manner in which the ancient soldiers were armed. They bore a spear in their right hand, and a shield in the left. With the former they attacked their foes, with the later they made defense. Some have supposed that it refers to the fact that they were taught to use the sword with the left hand as well as with the right. The simple idea is, that they were completely armed. To be armed on the right hand and on the left is to be well armed, or entirely equipped. They went forth to conflict. They met persecution, opposition, and slander. As the soldier went well armed to battle, so did they. But the armor with which they met their foes, and which constituted their entire panoply, was a holy life. With that they met all the assaults of their enemies; with that all slander and persecution. That was their defense, and by that they hoped and expected to achieve their conquests. They had no swords, and spears, and helmets, and shields; no carnal weapons of offence and defense; but they expected to meet all their assaults, and to gain all their victories, by an upright and holy life.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:7. By the word of truth — The doctrine of truth received immediately from God, and faithfully and affectionately preached to men.

By the power of God — Confirming this doctrine, not only by the miracles which we were enabled to work, but also by the application of that truth to the souls of the people by the energy of God.

By the armour of righteousness — Such as that described by the apostle, Ephesians 6:13-17, which he calls there the whole armour of God, consisting of the following pieces: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.

On the right hand and on the left — Particularly, the shield and the sword; the former on the left arm, the latter in the right hand. We have the doctrine of truth, and the power of God, as an armour to protect us on all sides, every where, and on all occasions.

It seems far-fetched to understand the right hand as signifying prosperity, and the left as signifying adversity; as if the apostle had said: We have this armour to defend us both in prosperity and adversity. By the doctrine of the Gospel, and by the power of God, the apostles were furnished with offensive and defensive weapons; they could ever defend themselves, and discomfit their foes.


 
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