Lesson Ii.b.6.c: Paul’s Methods Series

July 2, 2014

Tom Lowe

The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians

Lesson II.B.6.c: Paul’s Methods. (6:1-10)

2nd Corinthians 6:1-10 (NKJV)

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 by honor and dishonor, 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 yet not killed;

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Commentary

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

We then, as workers together with him

Christian ministers, and to a smaller degree Christians in general, are workers or laborers; their ministry is a work, and a very labor intensive one, but none of them, of themselves, have strength equal to the task. It is an honorable work that requires faithfulness and diligence, and those who perform it as it should be done deserve respect. These ministers do not work alone, but according to what is written here, they are “workers together with him”; meaning either God or Christ; not on a par with Him, but as subordinate to Him: he is the chief shepherd, they under-shepherds; He is the chief master builder, they are workers under Him. Their work is successful because He is with them, and they with him; he is over them, and stands by them, and encourages them in their work.

There is another explanation of this verse which follows this reasoning: The phrase, "with him", is not in the original text; and “workers together” may be rendered "fellow workers", or "fellow laborers", which means working with one another; and since reconciliation was made by Christ, and the ministry of reconciliation was committed to His ministers, and they were appointed ambassadors for Him, and were working in his place, therefore, they say, “We then, as workers together also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” Compare:

• 1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are laborers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building.” Though compared with God we are nothing, yet our position is not unimportant; God works as the principal effectual Cause, we work with God as His instruments; God works in one way, by His secret influence upon the heart, we work in another way, by personally telling the Gospel to people, but the scope and end of the work is the same.

• Acts 15.4: “And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.” The Apostles deemed themselves fellow-workers with God (see Mark 16:20), but we know from Acts 15:12 that they were only instruments whom God employed, for their labors are spoken of as “what God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.”

• 2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be you reconciled to God.” “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,” means that we are the ambassadors whom Christ has sent forth to negotiate with people in regard to their reconciliation to God.

“We then, as workers together with him:” ministers of the gospel are fellow workers together with Christ; though but as instruments, serving Him as the principal Agent, and effectual Cause: He trod the wine press of His Father’s wrath alone, and had no partner in the purchase of man’s salvation; but in the application of the purchased salvation, He has fellow workers. Though the internal work is done by Him alone—the effects of his Spirit upon the souls of those whose hearts are changed—yet there is a ministerial component, which consists of preaching and witnessing, whereby the gospel is conveyed by the ear to the soul; thus ministers work together with Christ. And without Him they can do nothing: they are workers, but they must have Christ work with them, or they will find that they labour in vain.