Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:7

ἐν λόγῳ�. In Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15 the Gospel is called ὁ λόγος τῆς�. The omission of the article here does not prove that the Gospel is not meant, as λόγῳ� (James 1:18), ποιηταὶ λόγου (James 4:11), λόγος ζωῆς (Philippians 2:16) show. But perhaps the sincerity of his utterances is all that is intended here. Through the influence of the Spirit neither his affection nor his speech was hypocritical. His enemies said that both were.

ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ. Not to be confined to either his preaching or his miracles (2 Corinthians 12:12): it covers the whole of his ministerial work, the success of which was not his but God’s; ἐν� (1 Corinthians 2:4). For δύναμις θεοῦ comp. 2 Corinthians 13:4; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:5; Romans 1:16; &c.

διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης. By weapons of righteousness, i.e. which righteousness supplies. Neither ‘weapons,’ nor ‘armour’ is satisfactory, the one meaning almost exclusively offensive, and the other quite exclusively defensive arms; whereas ὅπλα includes both. ‘Arms’ might be understood as brachia rather than arma. Comp. Ephesians 6:13-17. See Chase, Chrysostom, p. 183.

τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ�. For the right hand and the left. This does not mean for prosperity and adversity, but for completeness. The arms form a panoply; neither side is unarmed or unprotected.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:7

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