Author: Rev. Lek Aik Wee

2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

The Apostle Paul is considered a fake to some, a deceiver or impostor to many and yet, as William MacDonald observed, “he is true for all that. He is no impostor, but a genuine servant of the Most High God.”

Our Lord Jesus Himself was called a deceiver in Matthew 27:63 “Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.” Jesus’ tomb was made doubly secure to ensure no foul play Matthew 27:64 “Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.” Yet Jesus truly rose from the dead!

2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

The word translated as evil report, (dusjhmia) “δυσφημία” means bad language, hence slander, reproach, evil report.

William MacDonald observed well, “The true servant of God is the object of evil report and good report. Some speak well of his zeal and courage, whereas others have only condemnation for him.”

The Apostle Paul has no reputation expect the reputation of His Master as he testified in Philippians 1:20-21 “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Whereas before his conversion, his sole object was to persecute Christians. Now, his sole object in life was to glorify Christ. And he persevered by the grace to live for Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

Hendriksen said well, this “next two clauses delineate contrast: glory and dishonour, bad report and good report, in reverse order. As a soldier stands between weapons on his right and left so Paul and his associates are between glory and dishonour, bad report and good report… Just as Paul moves through spiritual battles with weapons in the left and the right hand, so he moves through circumstances in which he receives honour and good reports on the one hand and slander on the other. The apostle stays unswervingly devoted to the ministry of the Word.”¹

2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

The word “armour” means “tool or weapon”, in the plural, armour. The soldier in battle order will have a sword and a shield, both for offense and for defense. This speaks of weapons that promote righteousness. And righteousness speaks of “uprightness of conscience and holiness of life.”

Hendricksen observed well, “Engaged in spiritual warfare, the soldier in Christ’s army is armed with spiritual weapons to do battle against the forces of the evil one. Paul does not specify the kinds of weapons that are used, but there is no doubt that the sword or the spear is for the right hand and the shield for the left hand. A soldier is fully equipped to fight both offensively and defensively… Paul is upright in character and does not want to give anyone an opportunity to take offense (2 Cor. 6:3). But he is also on the defense against the attackers of the cause of Christ (11:13–14) and is on the offense by destroying their strongholds and capturing every thought for Christ (10:4–5). An upright soldier of Christ is flanked on the left and the right with weapons to defend and attack.”¹

2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

The Apostle Paul’s ministry was a suffering ministry. He walked in the steps of Jesus. As it was in Jesus’ life, the power of God was expressly manifested in the Apostle Paul’s life to authenticate a divine ministry wherein God’s goodness came upon those who received the call to repentance and faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

The Apostle Paul expressed the Source of his strength when he said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” He was a man consecrated to Christ, therein Christ’s power was manifested in his life, testifying in Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Barnes said well, “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 favourable regards of men.”

Thank God for the gift of the King James Bible to the church. There we find the most faithful translation available for our edification. It is with great confidence that we read “thus saith the Lord” or we preach “thus saith the Lord”. Not our eloquence rather our faithfulness to declare the truth in love (2 Cor. 6:6) for only the King James Bible cost the translates’ life blood, that does not attack the Son of God, or attack the blood of the Lamb, or undermine the faith which was once delivered unto the saints but Modern English versions do. [Dr SH Tow]

2 Corinthians 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

Unfeigned means “sincere, without hypocrisy, genuine”. The Apostle Paul speaks of God’s love manifested itself in his life. He served His Master with sincerity of heart, with a love that is unconditional, sacrificial, that will impact for eternity. This was how Jesus served in His earthly ministry.

Dorthy B. Gurney articulated such an eternal love and life very well in the hymn “O Perfect Love”:

O Perfect Love

O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
Humbling we come in prayer before Thy throne,

That theirs may be the love which knows no ending,

Whom Thou forevermore doest join in one.