2 Corinthians 6:9

2 Corinthians 6:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
• English Standard Version (ESV)as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
• New King James Version (NKJV)as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
• New Living Translation (NLT)We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.

Context of 2 Corinthians 6:9

7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.

2 Corinthians 6:9 word by word

ὡς ἀγνοούμενοι καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι, ὡς ἀποθνῄσκοντες καὶ ἰδοὺ ζῶμεν, ὡς παιδευόμενοι καὶ μὴ θανατούμενοι,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• unknownἀγνοέωagnoeō · be ignorantG50
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• well knownἐπιγινώσκωepiginōskō · to come to knowG1921
• dyingἀποθνήσκωapothnēskō · to dieG599
• beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• we liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• chastenedπαιδεύωpaideuō · to instructG3811
• notμήmē · notG3361
• killedθανατόωthanatoō · to killG2289

Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 6:9

• Acts 17:18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
• Acts 21:37As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.
• Acts 25:14Since they were spending many days there, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. He said: “There is a man here whom Felix left as a prisoner.
• 1 Corinthians 4:9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
• 2 Corinthians 11:6I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.
• Acts 19:26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.
• Romans 15:19by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.
• Galatians 1:22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 1:8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.
• 2 Corinthians 4:10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
• Romans 8:36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
• 1 Corinthians 15:31I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• Psalms 118:17I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
• 1 Corinthians 11:32Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9As unknown - Persons who are to be suspected as harbouring dark designs; persons of neither birth, parentage, nor respectable connections in life; And yet well known - Proved by our whole conduct to have no such designs, and demonstrated to be holy, upright, and useful, by the whole train of our peregrinations, through which we can be readily traced from place to place; having preached openly, and done nothing in a corner. As dying - Through continual…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9As unknown - As those who are deemed to be of an obscure and ignoble rank in life, unknown to the great, unknown to fame. The idea, I think, is, that they went as strangers, as persons unknown, in preaching the gospel. Yet, though thus unknown they endeavor to commend themselves as the ministers of God. Though among strangers; though having no introduction from the great and the noble, yet they endeavored so to act as to convince the world that they were…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-10People often attacked Paul's character as an apostle, even calling him and his colleagues imposters. Despite these attitudes, Paul remained honest. They likely thought Paul was insignificant and could be ignored, a reckless person taking unnecessary risks that made him seem almost dead already. Paul countered each of their claims with insights into spiritual reality.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. unknown ... yet well known--"unknown" in our true character to those who "evil report" of us, "well known" to those who hold us in "good report" (2Co 6:8). Conybeare explains, "Unknown by men, yet acknowledged by God" (1Co 13:12). Perhaps both God and men (believers) are intended as knowing him (2Co 5:11; 11:6). dying ... live--(2Co 1:9; 4:10, 11; 11:23). Compare Gaussen's remark, see on 2Co 6:5. "Behold" calls attention to the fact as something beyond…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Corinthians 6:9

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Minister, Christian
• Paradox
• Paul
• Persecution
• Resignation
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Agreement
• Care
• Cause
• Communion
• Concord
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the
• Unequally
• Unrighteousness
• Chastening; Chastisement
• Corinthians, Second Epistle to the

Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings