The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 6:9 Explained

2 Corinthians 6:9

KJV: As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

YLT: as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death;

Darby: as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

ASV: as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As  unknown,  and  [yet] well known;  as  dying,  and,  behold,  we live;  as  chastened,  and  not  killed; 

What does 2 Corinthians 6:9 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 - Ambassadors For Christ
On God's side the work of reconciliation is complete. Everything has been done and is in readiness to make forgiveness and justifying righteousness possible as soon as a penitent soul asks for them. He only waits for us to make application for our share in the atonement of Calvary. Many as our trespasses have been, they are not reckoned to us, because they were reckoned to Christ. God wants this known, and so from age to age sends out ambassadors to announce these terms and urge men to accept them.
God sends none forth to entreat men without cooperating with them. When rain falls on a slab of rock, it falls in vain. Be not rock, but loam to the gentle fall of God's grace. Let none of us be stumbling-blocks by the inconsistencies of our character, but all of us stepping-stones and ascending stairways for other souls.
The three marvelous series of paradoxes in 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 deserve careful pondering. The first series enumerates Paul's sufferings on behalf of the Gospel; the second, his behavior under them; the third, the contrast between appearance and reality, as judged respectively by time and eternity. The stoic bears life's sorrows with compressed lips; the Christian, with a smile. Let us be always rejoicing, many enriching, and all things possessing. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 6

1  That he has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations,
3  and by integrity of life,
4  and by patiently enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel
10  Of which he speaks the more boldly amongst them because his heart is open to them,
13  and he expects the like affection from them again;
14  exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters,
17  as being themselves temples of the living God

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:9

As unknown and yet well known [ως αγνοουμενοι και επιγινοσκομενοι]
“As ignored (as nonentities, obscure, without proper credentials 2 Corinthians 3:2) and yet fully recognized (by all who really matter as in 2 Corinthians 11:6).” [source]
And behold, we live [και ιδου ζωμεν]
Cf. the hazards of his life (2 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:23). His whole career is full of paradox). [source]
Chastened []
See 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, and compare Psalm 118:18. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:9

1 Corinthians 13:12 Shall I know [ἐπιγνώσομαι]
American Rev., rightly, “I shall fully know.” See on knowledge, Romans 3:20. The A.V. has brought this out in 2 Corinthians 6:9, well known. [source]
2 Corinthians 13:7 Not that we should appear approved, etc. []
The sense of the verse is this: We pray God that you do no evil, not in order that your good conduct may attest the excellence of our teaching and example, so that we shall be approved; but in order that you may do what is good, thus rendering it impossible for us to prove our apostolic authority by administering discipline. In that case we shall be as men unapproved. Stanley remarks that, in the light of this verse, Paul might have added to 2 Corinthians 6:9, as without proof and yet as aprroved. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in everything commending ourselves [αλλ εν παντι συνιστανοντες εαυτους]
Paul gives a marvellous summary of his argument about the dignity and glory of ministers of Christ as ministers of God (ως τεου διακονοι — hōs theou diakonoi) under three aspects, the first with in (εν — en) 2 Corinthians 6:3-7, the second with by (δια — dia) 2 Corinthians 6:7, 2 Corinthians 6:8, the third with as (ως — hōs) 2 Corinthians 6:9-10. The negative view with εν — en we have in 2 Corinthians 6:3, then the positive in 2 Corinthians 6:4-7. Each word carries a story that can be filled in from Paul‘s own life as a preacher with an echo in that of us all. [source]
1 Timothy 1:20 Alexander [Αλεχανδρος]
Probably the same as the one in 2 Timothy 4:14, but not the Jew of that name in Acts 19:33, unless he had become a Christian since then. I delivered unto Satan (παρεδωκα τωι Σαταναι — paredōka tōi Satanāi). See this very idiom (παραδουναι τωι Σαταναι — paradounai tōi Satanāi) in 1 Corinthians 5:5. It is a severe discipline of apostolic authority, apparently exclusion and more than mere abandonment (1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 2:11), though it is an obscure matter. That they might be taught not to blaspheme Purpose clause with ινα — hina and first aorist passive subjunctive of παιδευω — paideuō For this use of this common late verb, see note on 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9. [source]
1 Timothy 1:20 That they might be taught not to blaspheme [ινα παιδευτωσιν μη βλασπημειν]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and first aorist passive subjunctive of παιδευω — paideuō For this use of this common late verb, see note on 1 Corinthians 11:32; 2 Corinthians 6:9. [source]
Revelation 3:1 That hath the seven Spirits of God [ο εχων τα επτα πνευματα του τεου]
For which picture of the Holy Spirit see Revelation 1:4.And the seven stars (και τους επτα αστερας — kai tous hepta asteras). As in Revelation 1:16, Revelation 1:20.A name that thou livest A name in contrast with reality. The οτι — hoti clause in apposition with ονομα — onoma thou art dead “The paradox of death under the name of life” (Swete). Not complete (a nucleus of life) death (Revelation 3:2), but rapidly dying. See the picture in James 2:17; 2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:5. [source]
Revelation 3:1 A name that thou livest [ονομα οτι ζηις]
A name in contrast with reality. The οτι — hoti clause in apposition with ονομα — onoma thou art dead “The paradox of death under the name of life” (Swete). Not complete (a nucleus of life) death (Revelation 3:2), but rapidly dying. See the picture in James 2:17; 2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:5. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 6:9 mean?

as being unknown and yet being well-known dying behold we live being disciplined not being killed
ὡς ἀγνοούμενοι καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι ἀποθνήσκοντες ἰδοὺ ζῶμεν παιδευόμενοι μὴ θανατούμενοι

ἀγνοούμενοι  being  unknown 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀγνοέω  
Sense: to be ignorant, not to know.
καὶ  and  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι  being  well-known 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιγινώσκω  
Sense: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly.
ἀποθνήσκοντες  dying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
ἰδοὺ  behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
ζῶμεν  we  live 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).
παιδευόμενοι  being  disciplined 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: παιδεύω  
Sense: to train children.
θανατούμενοι  being  killed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: θανατόω  
Sense: to put to death.