2 Corinthians 6:6 - Exposition

By pureness; rather, in pureness, as the preposition is the same. He now gives six instances of special gifts and virtues. The "pureness" is not only "chastity," but absolute sincerity ( 1 John 3:3 ; 2 Corinthians 4:2 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:10 ). By knowledge . The knowledge is the true knowledge of the gospel in its fulness ( Ephesians 3:4 ). In his depth of insight into the truth St. Paul was specially gifted. The word gnosis had not yet acquired the fatal connotations which afterwards discredited it. By long suffering ( 2 Timothy 3:10 ; 2 Timothy 4:2 ). The patient endurance of insults, of which St. Paul shows a practical specimen in this Epistle, and still more in Philippians 1:15-18 . By kindness. "Love suffereth long, and is kind" ( 1 Corinthians 13:4 ); "Long suffering, kindness" ( Galatians 5:22 ). By the Holy Ghost. To the special gift of the Spirit St. Paul attributed all his success ( 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ; Romans 15:18 , Romans 15:19 ). By love unfeigned; which is the surest fruit of the Spirit, and the best of all spiritual gifts ( 2 Corinthians 12:15 ; 1 Corinthians 8:1 ; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 .; Romans 12:9 , etc.).