2 Corinthians 6:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“We are unknown, but well known.” This is the same as “by glory and dishonor.”

For some they were known and worthy of honor. For others they were unworthy even to be known.

“As dying, and behold, we live,” that is, as condemned and sentenced to death. This too was a form of dishonor.

He said this to show both the ineffable power of God and their patience.

“Considering,” he says, “how and to what extent our enemies raged against us, we surely ought to have died. Everyone thought so, but God saved us from destruction.”

Then, to show why God permits this, the Apostle continues: “as chastened,” paideuomenoi, “and not killed.”

Here he shows what benefit flows from temptations, even before the rewards, and how the enemies themselves involuntarily become their benefactors.

We are unknown, yet well known. To some they were esteemed and known, but to others they were not even worthy of being known. This corresponds to what was said: “in honor and dishonor.”

We are regarded as dead, and behold, we live. That is, as sentenced and condemned to death, and, in the opinion of those who set snares for us, already dead. Yet by the power of God we live.

We are chastened, but not killed. God permits this, he says, in order to instruct us. Even before future rewards, no small benefit comes from chastening in the present life.

This is taken from David, who says, “The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death” (Ps 117:18).

To some we are unknown, not renowned, and unworthy of attention. But other honest or impartial people recognize us and acknowledge in us the power of God.

They regard us as messengers of God (Acts 16:17).

They consider us dead, near death from beatings, fastings, and watchings. Yet behold, we live.

They punish us with the intention of taking our life. Yet we do not die, because life and death are in the hand of God.

Truly, Orthodox Christians, the power of God is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9).

As unknown, we appear so during persecution, and we are known during signs. As dying in persecution, and behold, we live in our Lord. As chastened by corruption, yet not condemned to death, and not put to death.

Those who hated the apostles thought every day that they could no longer escape the harsh reversals of life. Yet by the mercy of God they taught, and through the help of Christ they appeared again, saved from bodily death and from death after death.

[...] and by “the word of truth” he means the preaching of piety. He made everything depend on “the power of God,” because by its help he succeeded in what he mentioned.

“With weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live.

As chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

All these things are directly opposed to one another: glory to dishonor, reviling to praise, life to death, joy to sorrow.

Yet the Apostle made both kinds weapons of righteousness. From opposites he blended one single virtue.

In preaching these fundamental truths of Christianity, we strive in our life and conduct to place no stumbling block before anyone in anything. That is, we allow nothing scandalous, so that our apostolic ministry may not be blamed.

“But in everything we commend ourselves as servants of God: in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments,” and so forth.

In the words that follow, the holy Apostle Paul vividly depicts the outward contrast between the constraint and oppression of his position and the greatness of the labors he undertook.

He undertook them so as not to give believers even one stumbling block in anything.

“We are unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

In explaining the words “in the power of God,” blessed Theophylact writes that the Apostle means this: “In the preaching of the Gospel and in its success, nothing is mine.

Everything here was accomplished by the power of God, by signs and wonders, by a power that chastens or does good.”

Concerning the words “weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” and so forth, His Grace Theophan says:

“The Apostle continues to indicate in what and how they showed themselves true servants of God.

We used both the defensive instruments and those that strike the enemies of righteousness in such a way as to show ourselves servants of God.

By righteousness he means the righteous cause, the faith of Christ. By weapons he means both his word and his labors, and every help from above.

“As unknown, and yet well known.” Some said: we do not understand what sort of people they are.

Or, looking at them and seeing how unimpressive they were, they said: is it worth paying attention to them, becoming acquainted with them, and finding out what they are expounding there?

Others, on the contrary, immediately recognized them and understood what their work was and where their word led. They clung to them, began to value them highly, and counted them dear persons.

Saint Chrysostom says: “For some they were known and worthy of honor. For others they were unworthy even to be known.”

“As dying, and behold, we live.” It seems Saint Paul took this from an actual event. In Lystra he was stoned and dragged out of the city, because they supposed him dead.