THE SUFFERINGS OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

2 CORINTHIANS 6:3-10

2 Cor 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: KJV

HERE PAUL EXPLAINS THAT WE MUST NEVER DISCREDIT THE MINISTRY BY

HINDERING THE WORK OF GRACE IN ANYONE.

2 Cor 6:4-5
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions,
in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; (KJV)

TROUBLES, HARDSHIPS, DISTRESSES – REFERS TO THE WIDE RANGE OF THOSE

DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE THAT PRESSURE US, CREATE ADVERSITY,
OR BOX US IN, THREATING TO CRUSH US.

BEATINGS, IMPRISONMENTS, RIOTS - REFERS TO PERSECUTION RECEIVED BY

THE HANDS OF THE ENEMIES OF GOD.

HARD WORK, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS HUNGER/FASTING – REFER TO VOLUNTARY

HARDSIPS ENDURED IN THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY.

PAUL DETAILS THE SUFFERINGS AND HARDSHIPS OF MINISTRY, AND HOW WE

ARE TO CONDUCT OURSELVES IN ALL THINGS APPROVING OURSELVES AS THE
MINISTERS OF GOD AND MAN.THIS WORD APPROVING IS AKIN TO THE WORD
APPROVED IN 2 TIM 2:15. THIS WORD MEANS TO BE TRIED & APPROVED. THIS
WORD MEANS TO BE COMMENDED AS WE, BY BIBLICAL STANDARDS AND NOT
BY POPULARITY, REPRESENT OURSELVES WORTHY OF LEADING YOU INTO THE
KINGDOM OF GOD. THIS WORD MEANS TO MAKE A STAND WITH. SO WE ARE TO
SHOW THAT WE STAND WITH GOD AND THAT WE STAND WITH YOU, THAT WE
WILL PREACH THE ENTIRE GOSPEL. WE WILL NOT WATER DOWN THE WORD; WE
WILL NOT MANIPULATE THE WORD IN ORDER TO GET MORE MONEY FROM YOU.
SO PAUL TALKS ABOUT

2 Cor 6:6-7

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love

unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand
and on the left, (KJV)
PAUL THEN TELLS US WHAT GRACE AND GODS SPIRIT WILL PROVIDE TO HOLD
US TOGETHER AND ENDURE:
PURITY, UNDERSTANDING, PATIENCE UNDER PROVOCATION,
GOODNESS/GENEROSITY, THE HOLY GHOST, AND BY LOVE THAT IS SINCERE.
SPEAKING THE WORD OF GODS TRUTH, BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, THE
ARMOR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT. WHEN A
SOLDIER HAS SOMETHING IN BOTH HANDS IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS SOMETHING
TO ATTACK WITH AND SOMETHING TO DEFEND WITH. PAUL MUST BE TALKING
ABOUT THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT AND THE SHIELD OF FAITH.