2 Corinthians 6:3

Offence. Literally, “an occasion for stumbling.” Paul aspires so to conduct his ministry (cf. v. 1) as to give men no excuse, on his account, for rejecting the grace of God. It is therefore imperative that his own life shall be in complete harmony with the gospel he preaches. In vs. 3–10 Paul lists evidences that his life is in harmony with his message. He has given the Corinthians no reason to blame him as a minister.

Ministry. Textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for reading “our ministry.” Paul here speaks of his own service as an ambassador for Christ. He had suffered, labored, studied, and ministered the Word so as to avoid giving any occasion for offense (1 Cor. 8:13; 10:32, 33; Phil. 2:15; 1 Thess. 2:10; 5:22; cf. 10:16). Nevertheless, there were a number in Corinth who had taken offense. It would perhaps be impossible to preach and to act so that none would be offended. To some, even truth and holiness give offense; men who listened to Jesus were offended at Him (John 6:60, 61, 66). To others, any warning against sin or error gives offense. But to true Christians, the gospel ambassador will give no offense by manifestations of pride, irreverence, aloofness, questionable habits or practices, discourtesy, or vulgarity.

As far as possible, the gospel minister should “live peaceably with all men” (Rom. 12:18), yet both Jesus and Paul stirred up enmity wherever they went. Jesus “came not to send peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34), and warned that a “man’s foes shall be they of his own household” (v. 36). No Christian has ever encountered more enemies than Christ, and His disciples were charged with having “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). In every age God’s servants have found conflict unavoidable. Christian virtue and God’s standard of righteousness often stand in the way of men’s sinful pleasures, and wicked men are prone to charge as disturbers those who sound a warning against their evil ways. No minister can hope to preach the truth faithfully without offending men whose lives are thereby shown to be wrong.