2 Corinthians 6:9
as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
as unknown, yet well-known
The phrase "as unknown" in Greek is "ὡς ἄγνωστοι" (hōs agnōstoi), which suggests a lack of recognition or fame. In the context of Paul's ministry, this reflects the apostles' humble status in the eyes of the world. Despite their significant spiritual influence, they were often disregarded by society. However, "yet well-known" (καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι, kai epiginōskomenoi) indicates that they are recognized and esteemed by God and the Christian community. This duality highlights the paradox of Christian ministry: while the world may overlook or dismiss believers, their true identity and worth are acknowledged by God and those who share in the faith. Historically, this reflects the early church's experience of being marginalized yet deeply connected within their communities.

dying, and yet we live on
"Dying" (ἀποθνῄσκοντες, apothnēskontes) captures the constant threat of death faced by Paul and his companions due to persecution and hardship. This word conveys the ongoing nature of their suffering, as they continually face mortal danger for the sake of the Gospel. "Yet we live on" (ζῶμεν, zōmen) is a powerful testament to the sustaining power of God. Despite the physical and emotional toll of their ministry, they experience a spiritual vitality and resilience. This reflects the Christian belief in eternal life and the sustaining grace of God, which empowers believers to endure trials. The juxtaposition of death and life here is a profound reminder of the hope and strength found in Christ, who conquered death.

punished, yet not killed
The term "punished" (παιδευόμενοι, paideuomenoi) can also be translated as "disciplined" or "corrected," suggesting a form of suffering that serves a purpose. In the Greco-Roman world, discipline was often seen as a means of moral and spiritual development. For Paul, these experiences of punishment are not merely punitive but are transformative, shaping their character and faith. "Yet not killed" (οὐ θανατούμενοι, ou thanatoumenoi) emphasizes God's protection and sovereignty. Despite the severity of their trials, God preserves their lives, underscoring His control over life and death. This phrase reassures believers that while they may face severe trials, their ultimate fate rests in God's hands, and His purposes will prevail. Historically, this reflects the resilience of the early church, which, despite persecution, continued to grow and thrive.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing the challenges and paradoxes of the Christian ministry.

2. Corinth
A major city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and immorality, where Paul established a church during his missionary journeys.

3. The Corinthian Church
The recipients of this letter, they were dealing with internal conflicts and external pressures, requiring guidance and encouragement from Paul.

4. Christian Ministry
The broader context of this passage, highlighting the trials and paradoxes faced by those who serve Christ.

5. Persecution
The suffering and challenges faced by early Christians, often leading to misunderstandings and misjudgments by society.
Teaching Points
The Paradox of Christian Identity
Christians may be "unknown" to the world, yet they are "well-known" to God. This highlights the importance of finding our identity in Christ rather than in worldly recognition.

Life Through Death
The Christian life involves dying to self and living for Christ. This paradox is central to understanding the transformative power of the Gospel.

Endurance in Suffering
Despite being "punished," Christians are "not killed." This speaks to the resilience and hope found in Christ, encouraging believers to persevere through trials.

The Witness of Suffering
The experiences of suffering and persecution serve as a powerful testimony to the world, demonstrating the reality and strength of faith in Christ.

Eternal Perspective
The paradoxes in this verse remind believers to maintain an eternal perspective, focusing on the unseen and eternal rather than the temporary and visible.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding our identity as "unknown, yet well-known" impact the way we live out our faith in a secular world?

2. In what ways can the paradox of "dying, and yet we live on" be seen in your personal spiritual journey?

3. How can the assurance of being "punished, yet not killed" provide comfort and strength during times of persecution or hardship?

4. What are some practical ways to maintain an eternal perspective when facing the challenges and paradoxes of life?

5. How can the experiences of Paul and the early church inspire and encourage us in our own ministry and witness today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Philippians 3:10
Paul speaks about knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection, sharing in His sufferings, which parallels the paradox of dying yet living.

Romans 8:36-37
Paul discusses being considered as sheep to be slaughtered, yet being more than conquerors, echoing the theme of being punished yet not killed.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13
Paul describes the apostles as spectacles to the world, experiencing dishonor and hardship, similar to being unknown yet well-known.

2 Timothy 3:12
Paul warns that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will face persecution, aligning with the theme of suffering in ministry.

Matthew 5:11-12
Jesus speaks about being blessed when persecuted for righteousness, which relates to the paradoxical nature of Christian suffering and reward.
Appeal Growing Out of the Foregoing ArgumentC. Lipscomb 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Not Hindering the GospelE. Hurndall 2 Corinthians 6:3-10
The Holy Power of CharacterR. Tuck 2 Corinthians 6:3-10
By KnowledgeDean Vaughan.2 Corinthians 6:6-9
KindnessC. H. Spurgeon.2 Corinthians 6:6-9
Love UnfeignedDean Vaughan.2 Corinthians 6:6-9
PowerDean Vaughan.2 Corinthians 6:6-9
PurenessDean Vaughan.2 Corinthians 6:6-9
A Catalogue of ContradictionsP. Morrison.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Literary AltruismJ. Parker, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Opposite Views of a Good Man's LifeD. Thomas, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Poor, Yet Rich, and Enriching OthersS. Martin.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Rejoicing in SorrowA. Maclaren, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Rich PovertyH. Martyn.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
Sorrowing, Yet Always RejoicingF. D. Maurice, M. A.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
The Affluent PoorD. Thomas, D. D.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
The Sorrows and Pleasures Attendant on True PietyC. Townsend, M. A.2 Corinthians 6:9-10
People
Corinthians, Paul
Places
Achaia, Corinth
Topics
Beaten, Behold, Chastened, Death, Deprived, Discipline, Disciplined, Dying, Fully, God's, Kept, Killed, Mind, Obscure, Persons, Point, Punished, Punishment, Recognized, Regarded, Strange, Undergoing, Unknown, Unnoted, Well-known, Yet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Corinthians 6:9

     5127   back

2 Corinthians 6:3-10

     5109   Paul, apostle

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

     5262   commendation
     8221   courage, strength from God
     8713   discouragement

2 Corinthians 6:8-10

     7742   missionaries, support

Library
Blessed Prosperity Meditations on the First Psalm.
INTRODUCTORY. There is a prosperity which is not blessed: it comes not from above but from beneath, and it leads away from, not towards heaven. This prosperity of the wicked is often a sore perplexity to the servants of GOD; they need to be reminded of the exhortation, "Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." Many besides the Psalmist have been envious at the foolish when seeing the prosperity of the wicked, and have been
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue

Second Sunday in Lent
Text: First Thessalonians 4, 1-7. 1 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,--that ye abound more and more. 2 For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Love and the Comforter.
"By the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned."--2 Cor. vi. 6. The question is, "In what sense is the pouring out of Love an ever-continued, never-finished work? Love is here taken in its highest, purest sense. Love which gives its goods to the poor and its body to be burned is out of the question. St. Paul declares that one may do these things and still be nothing more than a sounding brass, utterly devoid of the least spark of the true and real Love. In 2 Cor. vi. 6 the apostle mentions the motives of
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Above and Below
"As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing."--2 Cor. vi. 10. P. G. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 In the bosom of the Father, Centre of His endless love, In the light and in the glory, Thus in Christ I dwell above. Filling up His bitter sufferings, Drinking of His cup of woe, And rejoicing as I do it, Thus with Christ I walk below. There above I rest, untroubled, All my service to adore; Cross and shame and death and sorrow Left behind for evermore. Therefore am I never weary Journeying onward through
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

And He was Altogether Wonderful in Faith and Religious...
68. And he was altogether wonderful in faith and religious, for he never held communion with the Meletian schismatics, knowing their wickedness and apostacy from the beginning; nor had he friendly dealings with the Manichæans or any other heretics; or, if he had, only as far as advice that they should change to piety. For he thought and asserted that intercourse with these was harmful and destructive to the soul. In the same manner also he loathed the heresy of the Arians, and exhorted all
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

Sanctification.
PAUL ENTIRELY SANCTIFIED. I might urge a great many other considerations, and as I have said, fill a book with scriptures, and arguments, and demonstrations, of the attainability of entire sanctification in this life. But I forbear, and will present only one more consideration--a consideration which has great weight in some minds. It is a question of great importance, whether any actually ever did attain this state. Some who believe it attainable, do not consider it of much importance to show that
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever.
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Clean Carriers
'Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.'--ISAIAH lii. 11. The context points to a great deliverance. It is a good example of the prophetical habit of casting prophecies of the future into the mould of the past. The features of the Exodus are repeated, but some of them are set aside. This deliverance, whatever it be, is to be after the pattern of that old story, but with very significant differences. Then, the departing Israelites had spoiled the Egyptians and come out, laden with silver
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Warfare of Christian Service
'All that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle.' NUM. iv. 23. These words occur in the series of regulations as to the functions of the Levites in the Tabernacle worship. The words 'to perform the service' are, as the margin tells us, literally, to 'war the warfare.' Although it may be difficult to say why such very prosaic and homely work as carrying the materials of the Tabernacle and the sacrificial vessels was designated by such a term, the underlying suggestion is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Twenty-Fourth Day. Holiness and Cleansing.
Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'--2 Cor. vii. 1. That holiness is more than cleansing, and must be preceded by it, is taught us in more than one passage of the New Testament. 'Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word.' 'If a man cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
PHILIPPIANS iv. 1-9 Euodia and Syntyche--Conditions to unanimity--Great uses of small occasions--Connexion to the paragraphs--The fortress and the sentinel--A golden chain of truths--Joy in the Lord--Yieldingness--Prayer in everything--Activities of a heart at rest Ver. 1. +So, my brethren beloved and longed for+, missed indeed, at this long distance from you, +my joy and crown+ of victory (stephanos), +thus+, as having such certainties and such aims, with such a Saviour, and looking for such
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Introductory Note to the Epistles of Ignatius
[a.d. 30-107.] The seductive myth which represents this Father as the little child whom the Lord placed in the midst of his apostles (St. Matt. xviii. 2) indicates at least the period when he may be supposed to have been born. That he and Polycarp were fellow-disciples under St. John, is a tradition by no means inconsistent with anything in the Epistles of either. His subsequent history is sufficiently indicated in the Epistles which follow. Had not the plan of this series been so exclusively that
Ignatius—The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians

Epistle Xl. To Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople.
To Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople. Gregory to Cyriacus, &c. Observing diligently, most dear brother, how great is the virtue of peace from the Lord's voice, which says, My peace I give unto you (Joh. xiv. 27), it becomes us so to abide in the love thereof as in no wise to give place to discord. But, since we cannot otherwise live in its root except by retaining in mind and in deed the humility which the very author of peace has taught, we entreat you with befitting charity, that, treading
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"And Truly Our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And These Things Write we unto You, that Your Joy May Be
1 John i. 3, 4.--"And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." It was sin that did first break off that fellowship that was between God and man, and cut off that blessed society in which the honour and happiness of man consisted. But that fundamental bond being loosed, it hath likewise untied all the links of society of men among themselves, and made such a general dispersion and dissipation of mankind,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The First Native Converts and Christian Schools
1800-1810 A carpenter the first Bengali convert--Krishna Pal's confession--Caste broken for the first time--Carey describes the baptism in the Hoogli--The first woman convert--The first widow convert--The first convert of writer caste--The first Christian Brahman--The first native chapel--A Bengali "experience" meeting--Carey founding a new community as well as church--Marriage difficulties solved--The first native Christian marriage feast in North India--Hindoo Christian death and burial--The first
George Smith—The Life of William Carey

Christian Behavior
Being the fruits of true Christianity: Teaching husbands, wives, parents, children, masters, servants, etc., how to walk so as to please God. With a word of direction to all backsliders. Advertisement by the Editor This valuable practical treatise, was first published as a pocket volume about the year 1674, soon after the author's final release from his long and dangerous imprisonment. It is evident from the concluding paragraph that he considered his liberty and even his life to be still in a very
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity the Careful Walk of the Christian.
Text: Ephesians 5, 15-21. 15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk [See then that ye walk circumspectly], not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

From the Latin Translation of Cassiodorus.
[3712] I.--Comments [3713] On the First Epistle of Peter. Chap. i. 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy hath regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us. "The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in us, through the operation of our unbelief. For He said again, that the soul never returns a second
Clement of Alexandria—Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?

That the Ruler Should be Always Chief in Action.
The ruler should always be chief in action, that by his living he may point out the way of life to those that are put under him, and that the flock, which follows the voice and manners of the shepherd, may learn how to walk better through example than through words. For he who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exhibit the highest things. For that voice more readily penetrates the hearer's heart, which the speaker's life
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Thirdly, for Thy Actions.
1. Do no evil, though thou mightest; for God will not suffer the least sin, without bitter repentance, to escape unpunished. Leave not undone any good that thou canst. But do nothing without a calling, nor anything in thy calling, till thou hast first taken counsel at God's word (1 Sam. xxx. 8) of its lawfulness, and pray for his blessings upon thy endeavour; and then do it in the name of God, with cheerfulness of heart, committing the success to him, in whose power it is to bless with his grace
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Some Man Will Say: "What Then Does it Profit a Servant of God...
32. Some man will say: "What then does it profit a servant of God, that, having left the former doings which he had in the world he is converted unto the spiritual life and warfare, if it still behove him to do business as of a common workman?" As if truly it could be easily unfolded in words, how greatly profiteth what the Lord, in answer to that rich man who was seeking counsel of laying hold on eternal life, told him to do if he would fain be perfect: sell that he had, distribute all to the indigence
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

Concerning Perfection.
Concerning Perfection. In whom this pure and holy birth is fully brought forth, the body of death and sin comes to be crucified and removed, and their hearts united and subjected to the truth; so as not to obey any suggestions or temptations of the evil one, but to be free from actual sinning and transgressing of the law of God, and in that respect perfect: yet doth this perfection still admit of a growth; and there remaineth always in some part a possibility of sinning, where the mind doth not most
Robert Barclay—Theses Theologicae and An Apology for the True Christian Divinity

The Yoke of Christ.
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."--Matt. xi. 29, 30. These words, which are brought before us in the Gospel of to-day's festival[1], are also found in the address made to us upon Ash Wednesday, in which we are told that if we "return unto Him who is the merciful Receiver of all true penitent sinners, if we will take His easy yoke and light burden upon us, to follow Him
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

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