2 Corinthians 6 7

2 Corinthians 6:7 kjv

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2 Corinthians 6:7 nkjv

by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2 Corinthians 6:7 niv

in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

2 Corinthians 6:7 esv

by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

2 Corinthians 6:7 nlt

We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.

2 Corinthians 6 verses

2 Corinthians 6 7 Meaning

2 Corinthians 6:7 describes essential components of an authentic and Spirit-empowered Christian ministry. It highlights that true service is conducted by or through divine truth, divine strength, and a lifestyle of moral integrity, which serves as both protection and offense. These spiritual armaments enable ministers to stand firm and advance the Gospel effectively, confronting challenges and demonstrating Christ's reality through both their message and conduct.

2 Corinthians 6 7 Context

This verse is situated within a broader passage (2 Cor 6:3-10) where the Apostle Paul powerfully defends the integrity and legitimacy of his ministry to the Corinthian church. He does this by listing various characteristics, trials, and means by which he and his co-workers commend themselves as servants of God. The Corinthians had a tendency to judge ministers based on outward appearance, rhetorical skill, or worldly success, leading some to disparage Paul. Here, Paul directly counters these worldly criteria by highlighting the spiritual and ethical foundations of his apostleship. He juxtaposes human suffering and weakness with divine enablement, portraying authentic ministry as marked not by ease or earthly accolades, but by patient endurance, holy conduct, and dependence on spiritual rather than carnal tools. Verse 7 specifically lists "positive" attributes or instruments used in their ministry, following a catalog of negative circumstances and virtuous actions in the preceding verses.

2 Corinthians 6 7 Word analysis

• by (Gk. ἐν, en / διὰ, dia): The change from en ("in, by means of") for the first two phrases to dia ("through") for the "weapons" signifies the instrumentality. En implies being immersed or residing in these qualities, while dia highlights them as direct tools or channels.

• the word (Gk. λόγῳ, logō): Refers not merely to speech, but to the message itself, the gospel, the teaching, or doctrine of Christ. It denotes revelation.

• of truth (Gk. ἀληθείας, alētheias): Signifies divine reality and genuineness. The ministry is founded upon, communicates, and operates in harmony with divine truth, as opposed to human wisdom, sophistry, or deception.

• by the power (Gk. δυνάμει, dynamei): Implies inherent strength, ability, and miraculous potency. This power is supernatural, distinct from human might or rhetorical skill.

• of God (Gk. θεοῦ, theou): Clarifies the origin of this power. It is God's own power, which enables the ministry to transcend human limitations and achieve spiritual results.

• by the weapons (Gk. ὅπλων, hoplōn): A military term referring to instruments of warfare, both offensive (sword, spear) and defensive (shield, breastplate). Paul frequently uses this metaphor for spiritual combat.

• of righteousness (Gk. δικαιοσύνης, dikaiosynēs): Refers to the divine quality of being right and just, but here specifically points to the ethical and moral integrity of the ministers. This righteousness becomes their armor and tools, both from God and lived out by the minister.

• for the right hand and for the left (Gk. τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν, tōn dexiōn kai aristerōn): An idiom referring to both offensive and defensive aspects of warfare. In ancient combat, the right hand wielded offensive weapons (sword), while the left held defensive ones (shield). This comprehensively covers all aspects of spiritual engagement.

• "by the word of truth": This phrase emphasizes that the content of the Christian ministry is the divinely revealed and unerring message of the gospel. Ministry is not based on speculation or human philosophies but on objective, divine truth.

• "by the power of God": This highlights the source of efficacy and spiritual enablement in ministry. It implies that true gospel proclamation and spiritual impact do not come from human charisma or persuasive rhetoric, but from the indwelling, miraculous power of the Holy Spirit and God Himself.

• "by the weapons of righteousness": This powerful metaphor depicts Christian life and ministry as spiritual warfare. The "weapons" are not carnal but ethical and moral, stemming from a right relationship with God and consistent godly living. Righteousness itself becomes both the shield against accusation and the sword against spiritual darkness.

• "for the right hand and for the left": This idiom further specifies the comprehensive nature of these weapons. Righteousness equips believers for both proactive engagement (offensive declaration of truth) and reactive protection (defensive steadfastness against opposition and temptation) in every facet of spiritual conflict. It signifies an all-encompassing deployment of moral integrity.

2 Corinthians 6 7 Bonus section

The repeated use of "by" (en and dia) in 2 Corinthians 6:4-7 functions as a significant literary device, presenting an inventory of the various means through which Paul and his colleagues validated their ministry. It moves from demonstrating steadfastness "by endurance" to active proclamation and living "by the Holy Spirit" and then here, by the specific instruments of "the word of truth, the power of God, and the weapons of righteousness." This cumulative effect builds a robust defense of their authentic apostleship against critics who focused on outward appearances. The imagery of spiritual warfare here, drawing from Roman military experience familiar to the Corinthian audience, highlights that the Christian's battle is primarily against spiritual forces and relies on spiritual armament, distinct from any worldly power struggle.

2 Corinthians 6 7 Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:7 presents the spiritual infrastructure of authentic ministry. Paul underscores that true gospel service is anchored in three non-negotiable foundations: the objective divine truth of the message, the supernatural power of God that gives efficacy to the message, and the moral integrity or righteousness of the minister, which acts as a comprehensive spiritual arsenal. This righteousness, emanating from God and manifested in Christ-like character, provides both defensive strength against attacks and offensive capability in proclaiming the gospel. This means genuine Christian witness is neither solely intellectual (word of truth alone) nor merely emotional/experiential (power of God alone), nor simply ethical (righteous conduct alone), but a harmonious fusion of all three, constantly active in every circumstance of ministry and life. It is a clear instruction for how to commend one's service, not by outward show, but by divine substance and unwavering character.