2 Corinthians 6:7 y in truthful word, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
The list of positive qualities that Paul and his compassion have continues in this verse. Truthful word could be understood as sincere speech. It is not hypocritical or tell lies. Dishonest speech can be subtle and not always easy or even possible to determine. People are good a being manipulative in what they say or how they speak. Speaking truthfully has nothing to hide and seeks the best in others and not oneself.
The power of God indicates how Paul and his companions did their ministry. It was not out of their own resources or pride but through God’s power. The best way to be an instrument of God’s power is to discard our own agenda and be filled with the Holy Spirit in total surrender. Paul had learned through the many trials he experienced to trust in God’s power and not his own.
The next phrase changes the preposition from “in” to “through.” This phrase shows how the power of God can be at work in a person and how all the other qualities listed so far can be used by God to further the mission of preaching the good news. It is through weapons of righteousness that God works out his will in our lives and we are empowered to help others through the ministry of reconciliation to which we have been called. Righteousness is a weapon in that it does not sit passively on a shelf collecting dust but is active in the world, making a difference in how we live and influence the people around us. Like a soldier with weapons in both hands, we are equipped to do every good work for which God has planned for us. Righteousness is one of the armors of God Paul lists in Ephesians 6:13-17. Righteousness is one of the most powerful weapons we have in a sinful and fallen world. But using this weapon may also be costly to us as we come in conflict with people controlled and bound by sin and self. The call to righteous living will be echoed in a few verses in 6:14-7:1.
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