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1 Wee then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine.
2 (For he saith, I haue heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of saluation haue I succoured thee: beholde, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of saluation)
3 Giuing no offence in any thing, that the ministery be not blamed:
4 But in all things approuing our selues, 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 purenesse, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained,
7 By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse, on the right hand, and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by euil report and good report, as deceiuers and yet true:
9 As vnknowen, & yet wel knowen: as dying, and behold, we liue: as chastened, and not killed:
10 As sorrowfull, yet alway reioycing: as poore, yet making many rich: as hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O yee Corinthians, our mouth is open vnto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Yee are not straitened in vs, but yee are straitned in your owne bowels.
13 Nowe for a recompense in the same, (I speake as vnto my children) be ye also inlarged.
14 Be ye not vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers: for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? and what communion hath light with darknesse?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that beleeueth, with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idoles? for ye are the Temple of the liuing God, as God hath saide, I will dwell in them, and walke in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and bee yee separate, saieth the Lord, and touch not the vncleane thing, and I will receiue you,
18 And will bee a Father vnto you, and ye shall bee my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord Almightie.
The apostle, with others, proved themselves faithful ministers of Christ, by their unblamable life and behaviour. (1-10) By affection for them, And by earnest concern, that they might have no fellowship with unbelievers and idolaters. (11-18)1-10 The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.
11-18 It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.