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;
• New International Version (NIV)known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet 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;

Context of 2 Corinthians 6:9

7We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. 8We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 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. 10Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 11Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open 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 17:18He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”
• Acts 21:37As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?” “Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised.
• Acts 25:14During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix.
• 1 Corinthians 4:9Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
• 2 Corinthians 11:6I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
• Acts 19:26But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!
• Romans 15:19They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.
• Galatians 1:22And still the churches in Christ that are in Judea didn’t know me personally.
• 2 Corinthians 1:8We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.
• 2 Corinthians 4:10Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
• Romans 8:36(As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)
• 1 Corinthians 15:31For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.
• Psalms 118:17I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.
• 1 Corinthians 11:32Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along 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