2 Corinthians 6 10

2 Corinthians 6:10 kjv

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:10 nkjv

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:10 niv

sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:10 esv

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:10 nlt

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Corinthians 6 verses

2 Corinthians 6 10 Meaning

2 Corinthians 6:10 encapsulates the paradoxical reality of genuine Christian ministry and discipleship, particularly as experienced by the Apostle Paul. It describes an external perception or outward circumstance characterized by sorrow, material poverty, and having nothing, sharply contrasted with an internal spiritual reality of constant rejoicing, the ability to spiritually enrich others, and the profound possession of all things in Christ. The verse highlights that true joy and spiritual abundance are not contingent upon earthly comforts or possessions but can coexist, and even flourish, amidst suffering and material lack, demonstrating God's transcendent power operating through apparent human weakness.

2 Corinthians 6 10 Context

2 Corinthians chapter 6 is embedded within Paul's fervent appeal to the Corinthian church to fully embrace his apostolic ministry and to live out God's grace. Beginning in chapter 2, Paul embarks on a passionate defense of his apostleship (an apologia), challenging his critics who likely evaluated his ministry based on worldly standards of success, eloquent speech, material wealth, or physical comfort, which were notably absent in Paul's life. Chapters 6:3-9 detail an extensive catalog of both hardships and virtues through which Paul and his companions commend themselves as authentic "servants of God"—including afflictions, imprisonments, labors, purity, kindness, and genuine love. Verse 10 serves as the culminating summary of these paradoxical characteristics, directly confronting the prevailing societal view that suffering or poverty signified divine disapproval. It masterfully presents a series of spiritual truths that contradict superficial appearances, urging the Corinthians to look beyond the external struggles to discern the profound spiritual reality and divine blessing inherent in Paul’s, and indeed all true, Christian ministry.

2 Corinthians 6 10 Word analysis

• "as" (Greek: ὡς - hōs): This particle frequently indicates how something is perceived or appears, rather than necessarily how it truly is in its ultimate reality. In this verse, and throughout 2 Cor 6:8-10, Paul uses "as" to highlight a deliberate contrast between his outward presentation or how others might judge him, and the underlying spiritual truth of his experience. It suggests an external assessment that needs internal correction through a spiritual lens.
• "sorrowful" (Greek: λυπούμενοι - lypoumenoi): Derived from λύπη (lypē), which signifies deep grief, pain, or distress. As a present participle, it denotes an ongoing, genuine state of experiencing sorrow. Paul does not deny the real, human emotional burden and heartache he carried due to persecution, the challenges of the churches, or the brokenness of the world. This sorrow was a profound aspect of his costly ministry.
• "yet always rejoicing" (Greek: χαίροντες - chairontes, with adverb ἀεί - aei): From χαίρω (chairō), meaning to be glad, joyful, or cheerful. Also a present participle, indicating a continual state. The emphatic adverb "always" underscores that this joy is constant and unwavering. It is a spiritual joy that transcends and coexists with sorrow, not in its absence. This joy is supernatural, rooted in Christ, the Gospel, God’s promises, and the Holy Spirit, irrespective of temporal circumstances.
• "as poor" (Greek: πτωχοί - ptōchoi): This term describes profound destitution, often literally a beggar or one who is utterly dependent. It goes beyond merely "not rich" to convey a state of severe lack and need for sustenance, challenging the common association of wealth with divine favor. This term implies relying completely on God's provision.
• "yet making many rich" (Greek: πλουτίζοντες πολλούς - ploutizontes pollous): From πλουτίζω (ploutizō), meaning to enrich or make wealthy. "Many" (pollous) points to a broad scope of impact. Paradoxically, despite his own material poverty, Paul and his fellow ministers served as agents through whom the boundless spiritual riches of the Gospel (salvation, reconciliation, wisdom, eternal life in Christ) flowed abundantly to countless others, leading to their profound and lasting spiritual transformation.
• "as having nothing" (Greek: μηδὲν ἔχοντες - mēden echontes): "Nothing" (mēden) is emphatic, signifying an absolute lack of earthly possessions, material security, or worldly advantages. It highlights a complete detachment from tangible assets, emphasizing absolute reliance on God. This echoes their state of extreme poverty but emphasizes an active non-possession of the things that give earthly security.
• "yet possessing everything" (Greek: πάντα κατέχοντες - panta katechontes): "Everything" (panta) signifies all things, encompassing comprehensive spiritual abundance. "Possessing" (katechontes) from κατέχω (katechō) implies not just "having," but firmly holding, retaining, and maintaining a secure grasp on something. This ultimate paradox reveals that in Christ, believers possess an immeasurable spiritual inheritance and have access to all divine resources—salvation, eternal life, divine wisdom, the Holy Spirit, fellow heirship with Christ, and God's promises—which vastly surpass any fleeting earthly wealth.

Words-group analysis:

• "as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing": This profound antithesis unveils the complex, integrated emotional and spiritual life of a true believer. It is not an either/or but a both/and; human grief and transcendent divine joy coexist and interweave. This describes a joy that stems not from favorable circumstances but from an internal, supernatural wellspring provided by God, enabling one to persevere through deep sorrow with an underlying sense of gladness and hope.
• "as poor, yet making many rich": This phrase illuminates the "upside-down" economics of the Kingdom of God. The physical destitution or material sacrifice of the minister becomes the very vessel for imparting immeasurable spiritual wealth—the life-giving truth of the Gospel—to others. The minister's outward lack empowers them to become conduits of eternal riches.
• "as having nothing, yet possessing everything": This final and most radical paradox summarizes the ultimate Christological and eschatological reality of the believer. While seemingly stripped of worldly goods, Christians, by virtue of their union with Christ, are "heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." Their lack of earthly property is offset by their secure and boundless spiritual inheritance in the eternal kingdom, signifying their ultimate ownership of all that genuinely matters through Christ.

2 Corinthians 6 10 Bonus section

The "as... yet..." rhetorical structure employed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:10 is not merely descriptive; it's a polemical tool that directly refutes the values of the Greco-Roman world and the false apostles who often paraded their worldly successes as proof of divine favor. Paul deliberately highlights the paradox of his ministry – presenting an appearance that was culturally deemed undesirable (sorrow, poverty, nothingness) while asserting a spiritual reality of profound joy, immense enrichment of others, and total possession of all things. This inversion of worldly values is central to Paul's theology, emphasizing that God's power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). The Corinthians were likely looking for apostles who were materially prosperous and charismatic; Paul counters this by demonstrating that authentic servanthood of God is characterized by radical dependence on God, finding glory in the very places where the world sees shame. This verse provides a robust theological foundation for understanding authentic discipleship as a life lived in stark contrast to prevailing societal metrics of success, embracing an eschatological tension where the realities of God's kingdom are already at work despite continued earthly suffering.

2 Corinthians 6 10 Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:10 provides a deeply insightful summary of Paul’s paradoxical apostolic identity, presenting a theology of weakness as strength. It is a series of three vivid antitheses designed to showcase how Christian ministry thrives not in spite of, but often through, outward suffering and material deprivation. Paul openly admits to genuine sorrow, recognizing the human cost of his commitment, yet insists that this never extinguishes his profound, constant joy, which is sourced supernaturally from Christ. Furthermore, his personal material poverty paradoxically enables him to be an instrument of vast spiritual wealth for others, bestowing the invaluable riches of the Gospel. Finally, while seemingly owning nothing in a worldly sense, he asserts that through Christ, he and other believers possess an unshakeable claim to "everything"—the spiritual blessings, an eternal inheritance, and an abundant life that transcends all earthly possessions. This verse ultimately challenges a superficial assessment of ministry or faith, emphasizing that true divine blessing and spiritual abundance are revealed and magnified in humility, self-sacrifice, and unwavering trust in God amidst all circumstances. It reminds us that our true treasure lies in our relationship with Christ, which makes us infinitely wealthy beyond measure.