(2Co 6:11) “O ye Corinthians,…(12)  Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.”   “Straitened”: to be restrained. The thought goes back to verses 1 and 3; not to do what harms the testimony of Jesus Christ. The HS points out it is not Paul, but the salvation in us that urges restraint of thought and action.

(2Co 6:11) “O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.”  The world has so affected us that we have a hard time imagining a rebuke being in love. Yet, through the Holy Spirit’s love given to a Pastor, it can very well be. It is a God-given instruction: (2Ti_4:2) “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”  

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(10)  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”    “Having nothing, and yet possessing all things”: I may seem to have nothing as far as this world is concerned, but yet I have a great inheritance through the Lord Jesus Christ. I share His inheritance. Why are we so prone to looking where the Lord says, “Don’t?” “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:21).

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(10)  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”   Most of the servants of God make a modest living compared to others. Yet, what we offer to the lost is beyond price. What we reveal in God’s Word are blessings beyond measure.

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(10)  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”  Yes, you can have joy in the midst of sorrow. Sorrow, like happiness, is determined by circumstance. Joy is not, but is a gift to the soul from God as it looks by faith to fulfillment of His promises.

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(9)  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;”  There is a chastening referred to in the Book of Hebrews.  It is for the Born Again Child of God, for their good and God’s glory. All of God’s own receive such chastening, even men of God.

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(9)  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;”  “as dying, and, behold, we live”:  The true goal is to put aside self’s desires in order to yield to the Holy Spirit’s desire – directions. The HS put it another way: (Gal_2:20) “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” 

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(9)  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;  “As unknown, and yet well known”: The person who lives for God should not be one that exalts self. That is for others to do if done at all. The aim of the true servant of God is the exaltation of Jesus Christ.

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(8) By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;”  The Believer will face opposition in this world as Satan opposes the work of God. He does this through influencing others. No matter what this world does, we must stand true to the Lord. He is more important than even our reputation. We are to be meek as He was meek and bold as He was bold.

(2Co 6:3) “Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: (4 ) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,…(7)  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,”   In Ephesians, the Believer is instructed to “take on” the armor of God. Since we already stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ (5:24), I would take this to mean we practice obedience in conduct to God’s Word, thus acting righteously. Doing so gives no offense to the ministry of Christ.