in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Parallel Translations
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in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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in the wordes of trueth in the power of God by the armoure of rightewesnes on the right honde and on the lyfte
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By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left,
Cross-references (26)
Passages linked to 2 Corinthians 6:7 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- Ephesians 6:11-20 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints: on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
- Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
- 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.
- James 1:18 Of his own will he gave birth to us by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
- Psalms 119:43 Don’t snatch the word of truth out of my mouth, for I put my hope in your ordinances.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith wouldn’t stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
- 2 Corinthians 7:14 For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.
- Ephesians 1:13 In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
- Proverbs 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
- Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
- Mark 16:20 They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
- Acts 11:21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
- Romans 13:12-13 The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy.
- 1 Corinthians 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God;
- Ephesians 1:19-20 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Ephesians 4:21 if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:
- Colossians 1:5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
- Hebrews 2:4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, by various works of power and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?
- Exodus 14:22 The children of Israel went into the middle of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.
- Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.
- 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.” For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 7. By the armor of righteousness By righteousness you…
7. By the armor of righteousness By righteousness you must understand — rectitude of conscience, and holiness of life. He employs the metaphor of armor, because all that serve God require to fight, inasmuch as the devil is always on the alert, to molest them. Now they must be completely armed, because, if he does not succeed in one onset, he thereupon makes a new attempt, and attacks them at one time from before, at another from behind — now on this side, and then on that.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Preaching of the Gospel.
Preaching of the Gospel.
Power to work miracles, and to bring under the wicked.
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Uprightness.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 7 By the word of truth, by the power…
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Ver. 7. On the right hand, &c.] Against the world’s both irritamenta and terriculamenta, both allurements and affrightments. Contemptus est a me Romanus et favor et furor, The Roman is despised by me both in gooodwil and anger, saith Luther, when the pope one while enticed him and another while threatened him. When he was offered to be cardinal if he would be quiet, he replied, No, not if I might be pope. When he was told that he should find no favour; Quid vero facere poterunt? (said he) occident? Nunquid resuscitabunt, ut iterum occidant? What will they do? will they kill me? But can they raise me to life again that they may kill me again? Can they kill me the second time? (Epist. ad Spal.)
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain By the word of truth; living up to and…
By the word of truth; living up to and keeping our eye upon the word of God, which is the word of truth: this seems to be the sense, rather than speaking truth to every one, as some have thought.
By the power of God; by the efficacious working of the Spirit of God upon our hearts, enabling us to live up to the doctrine we preach. Some understand here, by the power of God, that extraordinary power of working miracles, which God gave the apostles; others, the gospel, which the apostle calls the power of God unto salvation, Rom 1:16. It may be understood of the first and the last joined together; for the gospel is no otherwise the power of God to salvation, than as it is attended to the souls of those to whom it is so made powerful, with the inward, powerful, efficacious working of the Holy Spirit.
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By the armour of righteousness; he means a good conscience, (which cannot be without a universal rectitude, or uprightness of life), which is a defence against all temptations, either from prosperity or from adversity. In which sense that of Solomon is true: He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely, Pro 10:9; and David prayeth, Psa 25:21; Let integrity and uprightness preserve me.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain By honour and dishonour,.... Some persons think and speak…
By honour and dishonour,.... Some persons think and speak honourably of us, and behave in a reverent manner towards us; they wish us well, bid us God speed, receive us into their houses, and treat us with respect: others think meanly of us, speak of us with the utmost contempt, and use us as if we were the filth of the world, and the offscouring of all things; so we pass through the world; this is the treatment we meet with on the right hand and on the left; nor are we much affected with it:
by evil report and good report; as it fares with our persons, so with our doctrine: some speak well of it, receive and embrace it; others blaspheme it, and have it in the utmost abhorrence; we are charged with the vilest of crimes, and our doctrines loaded with the most absurd and wicked consequences, and both branded in the most infamous manner by one set of men; and by others both our persons and principles are cleared and vindicated from all such aspersions, and are highly commended and applauded.
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As deceivers; for so they were accounted, as Christ was before them, by the unbelieving Jews, and by the false apostles, as if they were the authors, or abettors, and spreaders of errors, and the instruments of leading people aside.
And yet true; true and faithful ministers of the word; true to their Lord and master; true to the trust committed to them; true to the Gospel of Christ, and to the souls of men.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain By the convincing and converting power of God -…
By the convincing and converting power of God - Accompanying his word; and also attesting it by divers miracles. By the armour of righteousness on the right hand and the left - That is, on all sides; the panoply or whole armour of God.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 7. By the word of truth] The doctrine…
Verse 7. By the word of truth] The doctrine of truth received immediately from God, and faithfully and affectionately preached to men.
By the power of God] Confirming this doctrine, not only by the miracles which we were enabled to work, but also by the application of that truth to the souls of the people by the energy of God.
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By the armour of righteousness] Such as that described by the apostle, Eph 6:13-17, which he calls there the whole armour of God, consisting of the following pieces: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
On the right hand and on the left] Particularly, the shield and the sword; the former on the left arm, the latter in the right hand. We have the doctrine of truth, and the power of God, as an armour to protect us on all sides, every where, and on all occasions.
It seems far-fetched to understand the right hand as signifying prosperity, and the left as signifying adversity; as if the apostle had said: We have this armour to defend us both in prosperity and adversity. By the doctrine of the Gospel, and by the power of God, the apostles were furnished with offensive and defensive weapons; they could ever defend themselves, and discomfit their foes.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain By the word of truth - That is, by…
By the word of truth - That is, by making known the truths of the gospel. It was his object to make known the simple truth. He did not corrupt it by false mixtures of philosophy and human wisdom, but communicated it as it had been revealed to him. The object of the appointment of the Christian ministry is to make known the truth, and when that is done it cannot but be that they will commend their office and work to the favorable regards of people.
By the power of God - By the divine power which attended the preaching of the gospel. Most of the ancient commentators explain this of the power of working miracles - Bloomfield. But it probably includes all the displays of divine power which attended the propagation of the gospel, whether in the working of miracles, or in the conversion of people. If it be asked how Paul used this power so as to give no offence in the work of the ministry, it may be replied, that the miraculous endowments bestowed upon the apostles, the power of speaking foreign languages, etc., seem to have been bestowed upon them to be employed in the same way as were their natural faculties; see the notes on 1Co 14:32. The idea here is, that they used the great powers entrusted to them by God, not as impostors would have done, for the purposes of gain and ambition, or for vain display, but solely for the furtherance of the true religion, and the salvation of people. They thus showed that they were sent from God, as well by the nature of the powers with which they were entrusted, as by the manner in which they used them.
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By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left - Interpreters bare varied much in the exposition of this passage; and many have run into utter wildness. Grotius says, that it refers to the manner in which the ancient soldiers were armed. They bore a spear in their right hand, and a shield in the left. With the former they attacked their foes, with the later they made defense. Some have supposed that it refers to the fact that they were taught to use the sword with the left hand as well as with the right. The simple idea is, that they were completely armed. To be armed on the right hand and on the left is to be well armed, or entirely equipped. They went forth to conflict. They met persecution, opposition, and slander. As the soldier went well armed to battle, so did they. But the armor with which they met their foes, and which constituted their entire panoply, was a holy life. With that they met all the assaults of their enemies; with that all slander and persecution. That was their defense, and by that they hoped and expected to achieve their conquests. They had no swords, and spears, and helmets, and shields; no carnal weapons of offence and defense; but they expected to meet all their assaults, and to gain all their victories, by an upright and holy life.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain By the word of truth, by the power of…
By the word of truth, by the power of God--rather, "IN . . . in," &c. As to "the word of truth" (compare Co2 4:2; Col 1:5), and "the (miraculous) power of God" (Co2 4:7); Co1 2:4, "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
by the armour--Greek, "through" or "by means of the armor." "Righteousness," which is the breastplate alone in Eph 6:13-17, here is made the whole Christian panoply (compare Co2 10:4).
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on . . . right . . . and . . . left--that is, guarding on every side.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 7. Word preached, of gospel truth.
7. Word preached, of gospel truth.
Power of God—Supernatural efficiency both in word and deed; prophecy and miracle.
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In the two following verses (8, 9) we have the contradictions, meeting in the persons of the apostles, between the views taken by their enemies and the views taken by their own self-knowledge. In 2Co_6:10 we have the opposite sides as truly seen by themselves.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 7. by the word of truth] i.e. the Gospel…
7. by the word of truth] i.e. the Gospel of reconciliation, with which he was entrusted. Cf. Gal_2:5; Eph_1:13; Eph_4:21; Col_1:5; 2Ti_2:15; Jas_1:18.
by the power of God] This is an expression very common in the N.T.; and, as Act_8:10 shews, was not confined to the Christian Church. See Mat_22:29; Luk_9:43; Rom_1:16; 1Co_1:18; 1Co_1:24, &c. Also 1Co_4:19-20; 1Co_5:4, and ch. 2Co_13:10.
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by the armour of righteousness] Rather weapons (arma, Vulgate). The translation in the text—which we owe to Tyndale—is possibly suggested by passages such as Eph_6:11; Eph_6:13; 1Th_5:8. Cf. ch. 2Co_10:4.
on the right hand and on the left] i.e. offensive and defensive, shield as well as spear.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (7) By the word of truth.—Both words are, in…
(7) By the word of truth.—Both words are, in the Greek, without the article, and this throws a slight shade of doubt upon their meaning. With the article, the same combination occurs in Eph_1:13; 2Ti_2:15; and there can be no doubt that there the sense is objective—“the word which conveys the truth of God to men.” Here a subjective meaning, “a word of truthfulness,” or “truthful word,” as distinct from insincerity of speech, is grammatically possible; but in Jas_1:18, where precisely the same combination occurs, we have ample warrant for retaining the objective meaning even here.
By the power of God.—Here, again, the words hover between a general and a specific sense. As distinguished from the “Holy Ghost” in 2Co_6:6, and looking to the general use of the Greek word for “power,” it seems natural to refer the word here chiefly, though, perhaps, not exclusively, to the supernatural power given by God for working miracles. (Comp. especially 2Co_12:12; 1Co_2:5; 1Co_12:10; 1Co_12:28-29.)
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By the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.—The thought is found in a more expanded form in Eph_6:11-17; 1Th_5:8. Its recurrence in 2Co_10:4 shows how familiar it was to St. Paul’s mind. Here it is presented in a more condensed form, but its meaning is sufficiently obvious. The weapon of the right hand is “the sword of the Spirit,” aggressive in the conflict with evil (Eph_6:17). The armour for the left hand is defensive, the “shield of faith,” which is our defence against the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph_6:16). This gives, it is believed, a better meaning than the interpretation which translates the Greek word by “instruments,” as in Rom_6:13, and taking these as meaning opportunities for action, sees in the two adjectives the meaning which sometimes attaches to them in Greek authors, and was derived from the usages of Greek divination, as “favourable” and “unfavourable.” It has been urged that the absence of the Greek article before “weapons on the left” is against the distinction which has been drawn above, and therefore that the words refer to the breast-plate which encompasses both sides of the body; but this, though a tenable view grammatically, is somewhat over-subtle. A man dictating a letter under the influence of strong emotion is not always mindful of minute grammatical distinctions, such as that on which this last interpretation rests.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain By the word of truth. St. Paul now passes…
By the word of truth. St. Paul now passes to the more specific endowments of the true teacher. (comp. 2Co_2:17 2Co_4:2; 1Co_2:4; Gal_2:5) By the power of God; literally, in power of God (2Co_4:7; 1Co_2:4 1Co_4:20) "For the kingdom of God is not only in word, but in power." By the armour of righteousness. Here first the preposition "in" (ejn) is changed for "through," "by means of" (dia). Armour; rather, arms. On the right hand and on the left. That is, both by offensive weapons and a defensive panoply (2Co_10:4; Eph_6:11-17; 1Th_5:8)
The armour of righteousness.
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There was something soldierly both in the nature and in the life course of the Apostle Paul. His resolution, courage, fortitude, capacity for endurance, fidelity to his spiritual Commander, were all high military qualities. We do not wonder that he made in his writings use so frequent and so effective of the warrior"s life. The Christian"s career, and much more emphatically the apostolic career, appeared to him one large campaign. Hence his reliance upon "the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
I THE CHRISTIAN"S NEED OF SPIRITUAL ARMOUR.
1. His foes are many, active, vigilant, formidable, untiring.
2. The warfare to which he is called is accordingly perilous and serious.
3. His own natural resources are utterly inadequate for his defence.
II THE NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN"S SPIRITUAL ARMOUR.
1. It is not physical, or carnal, but moral.
2. It is described in one word as "the armour of righteousness," as opposedto fraud and cunning and iniquity of every kind.
3. It is adapted to the several necessities of the welfare. Vide Ephesians 6., where the several weapons are enumerated and described.
III THE PURPOSES WHICH THE CHRISTIAN"S ARMOUR EFFECTS.
1. The right hand of the warrior wields the sword; and this is the emblemof the weapon of attack which the Christian grasps even "the sword of the Spirit," which is the Word of God.
2. The left hand of the warrior holds the shield, which is the symbol of thatmighty principle of faith, which is the defensive weapon used by every soldier in the spiritual warfare, with which he quenches the fiery darts of the evil one.
IV THE RESULTS OF THE WARFARE WAGED BY THE CHRISTIAN THROUGH THE USE OF HIS SPIRITUAL ARMOUR.
1. To himself, security and honour. He is delivered from his foes, and hefights the good fight of faith.
2. To his cause, victory. Righteousness is destined to conquer; there is nouncertainty as to the issues of the holy war.
3. To his Commander, great and growing renown, as his foes arevanquished and his kingdom is consolidated and extended. T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 7. By the word of truth. By preaching the…
7. By the word of truth. By preaching the gospel with power. By the power of God. Shown in his great activity and unparalleled success (4:7). By the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. See Eph. 6:11. On the left hand was the shield; in the right, the sword. Protected by the shield of faith, Paul used the sword of the Spirit.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain in the word of truth, in the power of…
in the word of truth, in the power of God [If Paul had kept his private life in fit condition for the ministry, he had likewise demeaned himself publicly as a true apostle. If he had kept his heart loyal to the truth, he had likewise kept his tongue faithful to the proclamation of it. In exercising discipline he had manifested the fullness of the power of God which was in him-- 2Co_4:7 ; 1Co_2:4-5 ; 1Co_4:19-21 ; Act_13:9-12 ]; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left [The armor of the right hand was offensive, and that of the left was defensive. As a true minister of Christ engaged in the Christian warfare, Paul knew how to strike so as to discipline all real offenders, and he also was well able to defend himself against the attacks of unchristian Jews, etc., and false brethren, who assailed his character as they had here at Corinth],
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain (See Scofield "1Jn 3:7").
righteousness
(See Scofield "1Jn 3:7").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.