Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:10

10. Here it is very improbable that λυπούμενοι, πτωχοί, and μηδὲν ἔχοντες are charges made against him by his enemies, while ἀεὶ χαίροντες, πολλοὺς πλουτίζοντες, and πάντα κατέχοντες are facts. All are given as facts. He was constantly being pained by his failures, and by his converts going astray; but God always turned his sorrow into joy (John 15:20). He was always poor in this world’s goods, but God enabled him to enrich others in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5). Note the change from καί to δέ in these two contrasts. Are the Beatitudes in his mind? Contrast the antitheses in 1 Corinthians 7:29.

ἀεὶ δὲ χαίροντες. The overwhelming sense of God’s love and of the indwelling of the Spirit in himself and in the Church filled him with inextinguishable joy: comp. Romans 5:3; Romans 14:7; Philippians 2:17-18; Philippians 4:4.

πολλοὺς δὲ πλουτίζοντες. Not by alms; he was not well enough off to give much even to a few, and the collections for the saints which he organized did not make any one rich. Moreover, such an interpretation is unworthy of the lofty tone of this passage. The imparting of spiritual gifts is specially meant; comp. Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:8; Revelation 2:9. On S. Paul’s poverty see Ramsay, Paul the Traveller, pp. 34 ff.

ὡς μηδὲν ἔχοντες. Not even himself: οὐκ ἔστε ἑαυτῶν (1 Corinthians 6:19). He had given both soul and body to the service of Christ: δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ (Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1). The subjective negative does not imply that his adversaries mocked at his poverty, but only that from one point of view he possessed nothing. In the N.T. μή with participles is much more common than οὐ, the latter being used when something is denied of persons who are definitely before the mind (2 Corinthians 4:8-9; contrast 2 Corinthians 4:2). Winer, p. 609. The ὡς gives a subjective view.

πάντα κατέχοντες. A play on words (ἕχοντες, κατέχοντες) similar to those in 2 Corinthians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8. The compound implies holding fast as a sure possession (1 Corinthians 7:30; 1 Corinthians 11:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). For πάντα comp. 1 Corinthians 3:22. In accordance with Christ’s promise (Mark 10:27-30) he had received a hundredfold for what he had given up. He had everything that is of real value here, together with an eternal inheritance. As Augustine says, “The whole world is the wealth of the believer” (De Civ. Dei xx. 7). Comp. 2 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 4:12.

2 Corinthians 6:11 to 2 Corinthians 7:16. CONCLUSION OF THE APPEAL FOR RECONCILIATION; EXHORTATIONS TO CHRISTIAN HOLINESS; STATEMENT OF THE HAPPY TIDINGS BROUGHT BY TITUS FROM CORINTH

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:10

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