We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
Parallel translations
- KJV Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- BSB We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- NKJV We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
- NASB giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
- NLT We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul takes care to give no cause for offense, so that his ministry is not discredited. Integrity guards the credibility of the gospel.
Overview
Mindful that a minister's conduct can hinder others, Paul avoids putting any stumbling block in people's way. He guards the reputation of his service so the message is not blamed for the messenger's faults. This introduces his list of how he commends himself as a true servant of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Rom 14:13Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.
- 1 Cor 9:12If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
- Matt 18:6but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a huge millstone should be hung around his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depths of the sea.
- Matt 17:27But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”
- 1 Cor 10:32–33Give no occasion for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God;
- 1 Cor 9:22To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
- 1 Cor 10:23–24“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up.
- 1 Cor 8:9–13But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you.
- 2 Cor 8:20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 6:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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