2 Corinthians 6:7

THE MESSAGE

Parallel Translations

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.

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,

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,

Darby Translation
in [the] word of truth, in [the] power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,

Christian Standard Bible®
by the message of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and 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;

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,

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,

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.

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],

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,

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

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,

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,

New Century Version
by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.

New English Translation
by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for 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;

English Standard Version
by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the 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,

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;

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.

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,

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:

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,

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,

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,

Easy-to-Read Version
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.

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,

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.

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;

Contextual Overview

¹Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

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
When the human race began to increase, with more and more daughters being born, the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful. They looked them over and picked out wives for themselves.

Genesis 6:3
Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years."

Genesis 6:4
This was back in the days (and also later) when there were giants in the land. The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men. These were the mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones.

Genesis 6:22
Noah did everything God commanded him to do.

Psalms 37:20
God-despisers have had it; God 's enemies are finished— Stripped bare like vineyards at harvest time, vanished like smoke in thin air.

Proverbs 10:27
The Fear-of- God expands your life; a wicked life is a puny life.

Proverbs 16:4
God made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included—but for judgment.

Zephaniah 1:3
"Men and women and animals, including birds and fish— Anything and everything that causes sin—will go, but especially people.

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.