2 Corinthians 6:3-4a We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:
Paul returns to one of the key reasons he is writing this letter: the Corinthians accuse him of changing his word and not being reliable as an apostle. He potentially was a reflection of the message he preached. He has clearly stated his message in the previous three chapters. This has been a solid theological foundation upon which he can now address again some of the false accusations of the Corinthians.
Paul does not want to be an obstacle to the salvation process of the Corinthians. He has pointed the way of reconciliation for them. They cannot find any fault in his message. But his ministry has also been built on this message and is consistent with this message. He has been a faithful ambassador of reconciliation, and the Corinthians’ own salvation is proof of this. He writes as a servant or minister (deaconoi) of God.
To demonstrate his faithfulness, Paul gives a lengthy list of the ways he has suffered because of the message he preaches. The list of “every way” is extensive and includes many different types and ways he and his travel companions have suffered (the subject of the list is plural). He does not want to boast in his strength, speaking abilities, or ability to argue logically. Rather, his boasting is in ways that look weak from the world’s perspective.
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