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Daily Devotions

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 
Day 
Day 79

"We give no offense in anything..."

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:3

MINISTERS OF GOD

Paul was most conscious of being an apostle of Christ. Thus, in some of his epistles, he would state that he was an apostle of the Lord (2 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 11:13; 2 Timothy 1:11).

Not everyone was an apostle, thus Paul used another term to describe himself and his fellow-workers. This word is translated “ministers”. It is also the root word where we get the word “deacon” from.

“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may
not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves
as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations,
in needs, in distresses.”
2 Corinthians 6:3-4

1. Perfection is not in mind

a) No one has a perfect ministry.
b) Paul is not defending his ministry as “perfect”.

2. “We give no offense in anything”

a) Paul ruled out the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
b) He sought to develop a totally Christ-centred ministry (1 Corinthians 1:18).
c) Never would Paul consciously or intentionally give offense in anything.

3. “That our ministry not be blamed”

a) Paul was aware that he had many enemies.
b) Given half a chance they would blame him for any conceivable offense.

4. “But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God”

a) “In all things”
i) In thought, word and deed.
ii) As far as it is possible, consciousness of being servants of God was borne in mind.
b) “Ministers of God”
i) This may simply be translated as “servants of God”.
ii) Paul sought to serve the Lord with humility and grace.
c) “Commend ourselves”
i) Paul was not patting himself on the back.
ii) But he must certainly be allowed to speak of how he and his fellow-labourers would prove themselves to be worthy servants.

5. A whole series of thoughts

a) Paul listed a long list of things that deserve careful study.
b) This was his way of proving that they were faithful servants of God.