2 Corinthians 6 1

2 Corinthians 6:1 kjv

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1 nkjv

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

2 Corinthians 6:1 niv

As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1 esv

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1 nlt

As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it.

2 Corinthians 6 verses

2 Corinthians 6 1 Meaning

2 Corinthians 6:1 is an urgent apostolic appeal from Paul to the Corinthian believers, immediately following his declaration of them as reconciled to God and Christ's ambassadors. Paul, speaking as God's co-worker, implores them not to nullify or waste the incredible gift of God's grace they have received. This grace encompasses their salvation, reconciliation, and the ongoing divine enablement for their Christian life. The exhortation calls them to an active, responsive faith that yields tangible fruit and does not merely superficially accept God's unmerited favor.

2 Corinthians 6 1 Context

This verse stands at a pivotal point in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. It directly follows the profound theological explanation in chapter 5, where Paul details the new creation in Christ (5:17), the ministry of reconciliation (5:18-19), and culminates in the magnificent statement of God making Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (5:21). Chapter 6 then shifts from this declarative truth to an earnest exhortation.

Paul, along with his fellow workers, perceives themselves as God's ambassadors through whom God makes His appeal (5:20). Therefore, this call in 6:1 is the response demanded by the radical grace and reconciliation offered in chapter 5. It sets the stage for Paul's defense of his ministry and his ethical appeals for the Corinthian church to separate from defiling influences and pursue genuine holiness (6:3-7:1).

Historically, the Corinthian church struggled with internal divisions, moral laxity, challenges to Paul's authority, and lingering compromises with pagan culture. Paul's appeal implicitly addresses these issues, warning against a superficial acceptance of the Gospel that does not lead to transformative living, thereby receiving "the grace of God in vain."

2 Corinthians 6 1 Word analysis

• Working together with him (συνεργοῦντες οὖν / synergountes oun):

  • συνεργοῦντες (synergountes): A present participle from συνεργέω (synergeo), meaning "to work with," "to be a fellow worker," "to collaborate." It speaks of active cooperation.
  • οὖν (oun): A connective particle, often translated as "therefore," "then," or "accordingly." It indicates a logical consequence or a transition from a preceding argument, linking back to the ambassadorial role and the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Cor 5:20-21.
  • Significance: This phrase usually refers to Paul and his colleagues working with God, in the capacity of His apostles and ministers, as they preach and serve. It grounds the authority and urgency of their appeal in their divine partnership. It's not just Paul's opinion but a divinely commissioned message.

• we appeal (παρακαλοῦμεν / parakaloumen):

  • A present active indicative verb from παρακαλέω (parakaleo), meaning "to beseech," "to urge," "to exhort," "to comfort," "to encourage."
  • Significance: It denotes a passionate, heartfelt plea rather than a mere suggestion or demand. It is the same word used in 2 Cor 5:20 ("we implore you on Christ's behalf"). This repetition emphasizes the urgency and deep concern Paul has for the Corinthians.

• you (ὑμᾶς / humas):

  • Direct object, referring specifically to the Corinthian believers.
  • Significance: The appeal is personal and direct, aimed at those who have already professed faith.

• not to receive (μὴ δέχεσθαι / mē dechesthhai):

  • μὴ (mē): The particle for a negative command, expressing prohibition.
  • δέχεσθαι (dechesthhai): A present middle infinitive from δέχωμαι (dechomai), meaning "to take," "to receive," "to accept," "to welcome." The middle voice implies a reception by them for themselves.
  • Significance: This isn't about being offered grace, but about how one takes possession of or responds to it. It implies a danger of receiving it in name or profession, but not in its full, transforming power or implications.

• the grace of God (τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ / tēn charin tou Theou):

  • χάρις (charis): "Grace," meaning unmerited favor, divine benevolence, or the spiritual influence God exerts on believers leading to holiness and fruitfulness. Here, it encapsulates the entire Gospel message of reconciliation and salvation, as elaborated in 2 Cor 5:21.
  • τοῦ Θεοῦ (tou Theou): "Of God," identifying the source.
  • Significance: This refers not just to initial salvation but the ongoing divine favor and enabling power God provides for a Christian life. It highlights the preciousness and magnitude of what they have been given, contrasting with the tragedy of its potential waste.

• in vain (εἰς κενόν / eis kenon):

  • εἰς (eis): A preposition indicating direction, "into," "unto."
  • κενόν (kenon): Adjective meaning "empty," "void," "futile," "useless," "to no purpose."
  • Significance: Receiving grace "in vain" means allowing it to be ineffective, unproductive, or to miss its intended purpose in one's life. It signifies a superficial or nominal Christianity where the powerful reality of God's grace fails to yield transformation, spiritual fruit, or obedient living. This is not about losing salvation, but about rendering its power and potential impact fruitless within one's experience and actions.

2 Corinthians 6 1 Bonus section

The phrase "working together with him" (συνεργοῦντες οὖν) carries a rich nuance. While typically understood as Paul and his team co-working with God in their apostolic ministry, the active imperative for the Corinthians not to receive grace in vain implies their own necessary participation. Therefore, there's a dual sense: Paul works with God in making the appeal, and the Corinthians are exhorted to partner with God by actively responding to His grace, not hindering its work within them. This aligns with Phil 2:12-13, where believers are commanded to "work out their salvation" precisely because "God works in them." This highlights that grace, though freely given, demands a cooperative human response and active pursuit of holiness, which is itself empowered by the very grace being received. This synergistic relationship is central to Pauline theology: God provides, and humanity responds within that divine provision.

2 Corinthians 6 1 Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:1 is a profoundly significant verse that bridges profound theology with urgent practical application. Paul, as a co-worker with God in the ministry of reconciliation, implores the Corinthian believers—and by extension, all who hear the gospel—not to render the magnificent grace of God ineffective in their lives. This "grace of God" is not merely an abstract concept or a past event; it is the living reality of salvation through Christ's atoning work, His ongoing favor, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

To receive this grace "in vain" means to accept it superficially, intellectually, or for temporal benefits, without allowing it to produce genuine repentance, transformative faith, holy living, and separation from sin. It's like sowing precious seed in infertile soil or neglecting its cultivation, leading to no harvest (cf. Parable of the Sower). The call is for a consistent, active, and diligent response to God's generous favor, ensuring that His grace achieves its full redemptive and sanctifying purpose in one's heart and life. This exhortation serves as a vital reminder that while salvation is by grace through faith, true grace inherently works to conform believers to Christ, not merely to justify them while they remain unchanged.

Practical Examples:

• A person who intellectually assents to Christ's sacrifice but continues to live indistinguishable from the world, exhibiting no change in values, desires, or actions.
• A church that celebrates the Gospel but whose members are largely indifferent to spiritual growth, service, or ethical standards, making its collective witness ineffective.
• Someone who claims faith in moments of crisis but does not integrate Christian principles into daily decisions or relationships.