Commentary
Frank Speech and Fresh Hope
(2 Corinthians 6:11–7:16)
Textual Issues
2 Cor 6:14—ἢ τίς for τίς δὲ of the Textus Receptus.
Vs. 15—Βελιάρ not Βελιάλ with the Textus Receptus.
Vs. 16—Perhaps ἡμεῖς . . . ἐσμεν with Lachmann instead of Ὑμεῖς . . . ἐστε of the B.M.T.
Vs. 17—ἐξέλθατε—the right reading over against T.R. and B.M.T.
2 Cor 7:8—Perhaps read as Tischendorf and the T.R. but then arises the question of particulars.
Vs. 10—ἐργάζεται not κατεργάζεται of the T.R. in the first case.
Vs. 11—Omit ὑμᾶς (T.R.), omit ἐν at end of verse (T.R.).
Vs. 12—T.R. has ἡμῶν . . . ὑμῶν end of verse. Should be the reverse.
Vs. 13—Should be Ἐπὶ δὲ, not with δέ after περισσοτέρως.
Vs. 14—Retain ὑμῶν in spite of Lachmann.
Commentary
2 Cor 6:11—‘We speak our minds freely to you, our hearts are open to receive you.’
Κορίνθιοι—This personal address bespeaks deep feeling, whether of anxiety, as here, or of love (as in Phil 4:15) or of anger (Gal 3:1).
Vs. 12—‘If there is any want of sympathy, it is not due to ourselves, but you.’
Vs. 13—‘I am asking for a return of affection (σπλάγχνοις), as a father would ask it from a child.’
Vs. 14—The link of connection not obvious—see Stanley p. 465. 2 Cor 6:14–7:1 is to be regarded as parenthetical. In 2 Cor 7:2 he returns to the theme of their constant sympathy. This looks to be something in the uppermost thoughts in the Apostle’s mind. But what was that? ‘Your heart is too narrow in my direction, and only too large in another. Your sympathies are too closed against us, and all too open to the enemies of Christ. You have adopted a spurious liberality instead of the true liberality.’ What is he alluding to? 1) the sin of profligacy—δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀνομίᾳ, . . . φωτὶ πρὸς σκότος; . . . Χριστοῦ πρὸς Βελιάρ, and 2) the sin of idolatry—πιστῷ μετὰ ἀπίστου; . . . ναῷ Θεοῦ μετὰ εἰδώλων, and these are the two offenses which appear in the First Epistle. Though doubtless the two were not unconnected especially in the case of Aphrodite at Corinth, hence the outburst that is 2 Cor 6:14ff.
ἑτεροζυγοῦντες—This word is used either of a balance (cf. Plutarch, Cim.xvi. p. 489 and Pseudo-Phylact.) or of cattle unevenly yoked (cf. Lev 19:19). The explanation of Plotinus (see Steph. Thes[?] as if ἑτεροζυγοῦντες is common as illustrating the procreation[?]).
δικαιοσύνῃ covers the whole field of moral right and wrong.
Vs. 15—Βελιάρ—The Hebrew form is Βελίαλ. Βελιάρ is by far the most textually supported here. For the change of words cf. Βεελζεβούλ—Mark 3:22. Of the meaning of the word see Smith’s Dictionary on ‘Devil’ s.v. This is not a proper name in the OT (or LXX—referring to someone haughty), though it seems to have become one afterwards and occurs in Theodotion Judges 19:22.
Vs. 16—συνκατάθεσις. Stanley is all wrong here. It is to cast one’s vote in the same way. Cf. Plutarch, Sng [?] 501C.
ναῷ Θεοῦ cf. 1 Corinthians.
Vs. 18—θυγατέρας. Not in 2 Sam 7:14. See Stanley.