2 Corinthians 6:2 - Exposition

For he saith; that is, "God saith." The nominative is involved in the " fellow workers, " so that this is hardly to be classed with those rabbinic methods of citation found also in Philo, which deliberately omit the word "God" as the speaker, and use "He" by preference. I have heard thee, etc. The quotation is from the LXX . of Isaiah 49:8 , and is meant to express the necessity for receiving the grace of God, not only efficaciously, but at once. The "thee" in Isaiah is the Servant of Jehovah, the type primarily of Christ, and then of all who are "in Christ." In a time accepted; literally, in the Hebrew, in a time of favour . It is the season of grace, before grace has been wilfully rejected, and the time for judgment begins ( Proverbs 1:24-28 ). The accepted time; literally, the well-accepted opportunity . St. Paul in his earnestness strengthens the force of the adjective. The same word occurs in 2 Corinthians 8:12 ; Romans 15:16 , Romans 15:31 .

"There is a deep nick in Time's restless wheel

For each man's good."

(Chapman.)

Now . No doubt St. Paul meant that, as long as life lasts, the door of repentance is never absolutely closed; but it is probable that he had specially in view the nearness of the advent of Christ. Compare the stress laid upon the word "today" in Hebrews 3:7 , Hebrews 3:8 , and "at least in this thy day " ( Luke 19:42 ).