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Read the Bible

King James Version

2 Corinthians 6:6

By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Holy Spirit;   Longsuffering;   Love;   Minister, Christian;   Patience;   Resignation;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Christian Graces;   Fruit, Spiritual;   Fruitfulness-Unfruitfulness;   Graces, Christian;   Leaders;   Longsuffering;   Meekness-Retaliation;   Ministers;   Religious;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Afflicted Saints;   Love to Man;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Kindness;   Weapons;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Kindness;   Leadership;   Purity;   Wealth;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Corinth;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Hypocrisy;   Kindness;   Patience;   Persecution in the Bible;   Purity-Purification;   Thorn in the Flesh;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Brotherly Love;   Evil;   Kindness;   Kindness (2);   Long-Suffering ;   Longsuffering;   Temperance ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - 33 Patience Long-Suffering Forbearance;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Paul;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Hypocrisy;   Kindness;   Unfeigned;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
King James Version (1611)
By purenesse, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained,
English Standard Version
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
New American Standard Bible
in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
New Century Version
We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love,
Amplified Bible
in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
Legacy Standard Bible
in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love,
Berean Standard Bible
in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
Contemporary English Version
But we have kept ourselves pure and have been understanding, patient, and kind. The Holy Spirit has been with us, and our love has been real.
Complete Jewish Bible
We commend ourselves by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by the Ruach HaKodesh; by genuineness of love
Darby Translation
in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in [the] Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
Easy-to-Read Version
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,
Geneva Bible (1587)
By watchings, by fastings, by puritie, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained,
George Lamsa Translation
By purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
Good News Translation
By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love,
Lexham English Bible
in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy,
Literal Translation
in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love,
American Standard Version
in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
Bible in Basic English
In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,
Hebrew Names Version
in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Ruach HaKodesh, in sincere love,
International Standard Version
with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
Etheridge Translation
by purity, by knowledge, by prolonging the mind, by benignity, by the Spirit of Holiness, by love without deceit,
Murdock Translation
by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by benignity, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
In watchynges, in fastinges, in purenesse, in knowledge, in long suffryng, in kyndnesse, in the holy ghost, in loue vnfaigned:
English Revised Version
in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Ghost, in love unfeigned,
World English Bible
in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
By purity, by prudence, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
Weymouth's New Testament
by purity of life, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
in chastite, in kunnyng, in long abiding, in swetnesse, in the Hooli Goost,
Update Bible Version
in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love,
Webster's Bible Translation
By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned,
New English Translation
by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,
New King James Version
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
New Living Translation
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
New Life Bible
We have been pure. We have known what to do. We have suffered long. We have been kind. The Holy Spirit has worked in us. We have had true love.
New Revised Standard
by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
in sanctity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in graciousness, in Holy Spirit,
Douay-Rheims Bible
In chastity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in sweetness, in the Holy Ghost, in charity unfeigned,
Revised Standard Version
by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
in purenes in knowledge in longe sufferynge in kyndnes in the holy goost in love vnfayned
Young's Literal Translation
in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
in purenesse, in knowlege, in longe sufferynge, in kyndnesse, in the holy goost, in loue vnfayned,
Mace New Testament (1729)
I approve myself, by chastity, by knowledge, by meekness, by kindness, by sanctity of mind, by undisguised benevolence,
Simplified Cowboy Version
We prove we are cowboys by our pure lives, our knowledge and understanding of gathering strays, our patience in times of trouble, our kindness in times of strife, by the Holy Spirit riding with us, and by the way we love others.

Contextual Overview

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

pureness: 2 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Timothy 4:12, 1 Timothy 5:2, Titus 2:7

knowledge: 2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Corinthians 11:6, 1 Corinthians 2:1, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Ephesians 3:4, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 1:27, Colossians 2:3, long suffering, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 1:11, Colossians 3:12, 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 4:2

by the: 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 11:4, Romans 15:19, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Galatians 3:2, Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:12

love: 2 Corinthians 2:4, 2 Corinthians 11:11, 2 Corinthians 12:15, Judges 16:15, Ezekiel 33:31, Romans 12:9, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 3:18

Reciprocal: John 14:26 - Holy Ghost 2 Corinthians 8:8 - prove Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing 2 Timothy 1:5 - unfeigned

Cross-References

Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord .
Genesis 6:10
And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 6:17
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
Genesis 6:18
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
Exodus 32:14
And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Deuteronomy 32:29
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
Deuteronomy 32:36
For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
1 Samuel 15:11
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

By pureness,.... The apostle having observed how he, and other ministers of God, showed themselves to be such by patiently bearing everything that was afflictive and distressing to the outward man, proceeds to show how they approved themselves in other respects; and which more chiefly regard the inward man, the exercise of grace, and a spiritual behaviour: "by pureness"; of doctrine and conversation, chastity of body and mind, sincerity of heart, and integrity of life:

by knowledge; of the Scriptures of truth, the mysteries of grace; or by a prudent conduct, a walking in wisdom with caution and circumspection:

by longsuffering: not easily provoked to wrath, but bearing with patience every indignity and affront:

by kindness; gentleness, sweetness of temper and manners, affability and courteousness:

by the Holy Ghost; influencing and assisting in the exercise of every grace, and the discharge of every duty, or by the gifts of the Holy Ghost, ordinary and extraordinary:

by love unfeigned; without dissimulation, being not in word only, but in deed and in truth towards the brethren, and to all men.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By pureness - Paul, having in the previous verses, grouped together some of the sufferings which he endured and by which he had endeavored to commend and extend the true religion, proceeds here to group together certain other influences by which he had sought the same object. The substance of what he here says is, that it had not only been done by sufferings and trials, but by a holy life, and by entire consecration to the great cause to which he had devoted himself. He begins by stating that it was by pureness, that is, by integrity, sanctity, a holy and pure life. All preaching, and all labors would have been in vain without this; and Paul well knew that if he succeeded in the ministry, he must be a good man. The same is true in all other professions. One of the essential requisites of an orator, according to Quintilian, is, that he must be a good man; and no man may expect ultimately to succeed in any calling of life unless he is pure. But however this may be in other callings, no one will doubt it in regard to the ministry of the gospel.

By knowledge - Interpreters have differed much in the interpretation of this. Rosenmuller and Schleusner understand by it prudence. Grotius interprets it as meaning a knowledge of the Law. Doddridge supposes that it refers to a solicitude to improve in the knowledge of those truths which they were called to communicate to others. Probably the idea is a very simple one. Paul is showing how he endeavored to commend the gospel to others, 2 Corinthians 6:4. He says, therefore, that one way was by communicating knowledge, true knowledge. He proclaimed that which was true, and which was real knowledge, in opposition to the false science of the Greeks, and in opposition to those who would substitute declamation for argument, and the mere ornaments of rhetoric for truth. The idea is, that the ministry should not be ignorant, but that if they wished to commend their office, they should be well informed, and should be people of good sense. Paul had no belief that an ignorant ministry was preferable to one that was characterized by true knowledge; and he felt that if he was to be useful it was to be by his imparting to others truth that would be useful. “The priest’s lips should keep knowledge;” Malachi 2:7.

By long-suffering - By patience in our trials, and in the provocations which we meet with. We endeavor to obtain and keep a control over our passions, and to keep them in subjection. See this word explained in the notes on 1 Corinthians 13:4.

By kindness - see the note, 1 Corinthians 13:4. By gentleness of manner, of temper, and of spirit. By endeavoring to evince this spirit to all, whatever may be their treatment of us, and whatever may be our provocations. Paul felt that if a minister would do good he must be kind, and gentle to all.

By the Holy Ghost - By the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. By those graces and virtues which it is his office especially to produce in the heart; compare Galatians 5:22-23. Paul here evidently refers not to the miraculous agency of the Holy Spirit, but he is referring to the Spirit which he and his fellow-ministers manifested, and means here, doubtless, that they evinced such feelings as the Holy Spirit produced in the hearts of the children of God.

By love unfeigned - Sincere, true, ardent love to all. By undissembled, pure, and genuine affection for the souls of people. What good can a minister do if he does not love his people, and the souls of people? The prominent characteristic in the life of the Redeemer was love - love to all. So if we are like him, and if we do any good, we shall have love to people. No man is useful without it; and ministers, in general, are useful just in proportion as they have it. It will prompt to labor, self-denial, and toil; it will make them patient, ardent, kind; it will give them zeal, and will give them access to the heart; it will accomplish what no eloquence, labor, or learning will do without it. He who shows that he loves me has access at once to my heart; he who does not, cannot make a way there by any argument, eloquence, denunciation, or learning. No minister is useful without it; no one with it can be otherwise than useful.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:6. By pureness — εν αγνοτητι. In simplicity of intention, and purity of affection; together with that chastity and holiness of life which the Gospel enjoins.

By knowledge — Of the Divine mysteries.

By long-suffering — Under all provocations.

By kindness — To our most virulent persecutors, and to all men.

By the Holy Ghost — There are doubts among learned men whether the apostle here means that SPIRIT who is called the third person of the holy TRINITY; or some grace, disposition, or quality of the soul, which was thus denominated, as implying a spirit wholly purified, and fitted to be a habitation of God.

Schoettgen quotes a passage from Rabbi Bechai, in which it appears to him to have this latter meaning: "Rabbi Pinchas, the son of Jair, said: Reflection leads to sedulity; sedulity to innocence; innocence to abstinence; abstinence to cleanness; cleanness to sanctity; sanctity to the fear of sin; fear of sin to humility; humility to piety; and piety to the Holy Spirit. Of these ten virtues five are external, or belong to the body; and five internal, or belonging to the soul; but all men prefer the tenth, which is רוח הקדש ruach haktodesh, the Holy Spirit." Even allowing Rabbi Pinchas to be a person on whose judgment we could rely, and whose authority was decisive, there does not appear to me any reason why we should depart from the usual meaning of the term from any thing that is said here. It appears to me plain enough that the rabbi means the constant indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and St. Paul, in this place, may have the same thing in view, and with it the various gifts of the Holy Spirit by which he was enabled to work miracles.

By love unfeigned — εν αγαπη ανυποκριτω. Love without hypocrisy; such as disposed us at all times to lay down our life for the brethren, and to spend and be spent for the glory of God and the good of mankind.


 
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