Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
Parallel translations
- WEB We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be 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 14:13Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
- 1 Cor 9:12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
- Matt 18:6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- Matt 17:27Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
- 1 Cor 10:32–33Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
- 1 Cor 9:22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
- 1 Cor 10:23–24All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
- 1 Cor 8:9–13But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- 2 Cor 8:20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in 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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