2 Corinthians 6 · Verse 3

2 Corinthians 6:3

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
2 Corinthians 6:3, King James Version

2 Corinthians 6:3 in other translations

BSBWe put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
WEBWe give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
ASVgiving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
YLTin nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,
DARBYgiving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;
BBEGiving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work;
WebsterGiving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

What does 2 Corinthians 6:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Resuming the connection with 2Co 6:1, interrupted by the parenthetical 2Co 6:2. "Giving no offense" (compare 1Co 10:33), "approving ourselves," and all the other participles down to 2Co 6:10, are nominatives to "we also entreat you" (2Co 6:1), to show the pains he took to enforce his exhortation by example, as well as precept [Alford]. "Offense" would be given, if we were without "patience" and the other qualifications which he therefore subjoins (compare Ro 14:13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Giving no offence in any thing. We the ministers of God, 2Cor 6:1. The word rendered offence means, properly, stumbling; then offence, or cause of offence, a falling into sin. The meaning here is, "giving no occasion for contemning or rejecting the gospel; and the idea of Paul is, that he and his fellow-apostles so laboured as that no one who saw or knew them should have occasion to reproach the ministry, or the religion which they preached; but so that in their pure and self-denying lives, the strongest argument should be seen for embracing it. Comp. Mt 10:16, 1Cor 8:13, 10:32,33. Php 2:16; 1Thes 2:10, 1Thes 5:22. How they conducted [themselves] so as to give no offence he states in the following verses.

That the ministry be not blamed. The phrase, "the ministry," refers here not merely to the ministry of Paul, that is, it does not mean merely that he would be subject to blame and reproach, but that the ministry itself which the Lord Jesus had established would be blamed, or would be reproached by the improper conduct of any one who was engaged in that work. The idea is, that the misconduct of one minister of the gospel would bring a reproach upon the profession itself, and would prevent the usefulness and success of others, just as the misconduct of a physician exposes the profession to reproach, or the bad conduct of a lawyer reflects itself in some degree on the entire profession. And it is so everywhere. The errors, follies, misconduct, or bad example of one minister of the gospel brings a reproach upon the sacred calling itself, and prevents the usefulness of many others. Ministers do not stand alone. And though no one can be responsible for the errors and failings of others, yet no one can avoid suffering in regard to his usefulness by the sins of others. Not only, therefore, from a regard to his personal usefulness should every minister be circumspect in his walk, but from respect to the usefulness of all others who sustain the office of the ministry, and from respect to the success of religion all over the world. Paul made it one of the principles of his conduct so to act that no man should have cause to speak reproachfully of the ministry on his account. In order to this, he felt it to be necessary not only to claim and assert honour for the ministry, but to lead such a life as should deserve the respect of men. If a man wishes to secure respect for his calling, it must be by living in the manner which that calling demands, and then respect and honour will follow as a matter of course. See Calvin.

(d) "no offense" 1Cor 10:32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Giving no offense - The word προσκοπη, read προσκομμα, Rom 14:13, signifies a stumbling block in general, or any thing over which a man stumbles or falls; and here means any transgression or scandal that might take place among the ministers, or the Christians themselves, whereby either Jews or Gentiles might take occasion of offense, and vilify the Gospel of Christ.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 →

2 Corinthians 6:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

μηδεμίανmēdemianNothingG3367
ἐνenbeforeG1722
μηδενὶmēdenino oneG3367
διδόντεςdidontesplacingG1325
προσκοπήν,proskopēnan obstacle,G4349
ἵναinaso thatG2443
μὴmēnotG3361
μωμηθῇmōmēthēamay be blemishedG3469
ἡhētheG3588
διακονία,diakoniaministry,G1248

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 6:3

  • Romans 14:13

    Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:12

    If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:22

    To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

  • Matthew 18:6

    But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:32-33

    Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

  • Matthew 17:27

    Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

  • 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

    But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. …

  • 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

    All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12

    For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:20

    Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:12; 8:20; Mt 17:27; 18:6; Ro 14:13; 1Co 8:9-13; 9:12,22
1Co 10:23,24,32,33

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Corinthians 6:2

    (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

  • 2 Corinthians 6:3

    Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

  • 2 Corinthians 6:4

    But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

Read all of 2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No dando á nadie ningún escándalo, porque el ministerio nuestro no sea vituperado:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		– ne donnant aucun scandale en rien, afin que le service ne soit pas blâmé,
German
Elberfelder 1871		indem wir in keiner Sache irgend einen Anstoß geben, auf daß der Dienst nicht verlästert werde,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nemini dantes ullam offensionem, ut non vituperetur ministerium nostrum: