We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
Parallel translations
- WEB We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
- KJV Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- 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 us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
- 1 Cor 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
- Matt 18:6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- Matt 17:27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
- 1 Cor 10:32–33Do not become a stumbling block, whether to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—
- 1 Cor 9:22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
- 1 Cor 10:23–24“Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is edifying.
- 1 Cor 8:9–13Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- 2 Cor 8:20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.