II Corinthians 6:3 · Bible study
2 Corinthians 6:3 Commentary: No Occasion for Stumbling, No Blame on the Ministry
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:3 explains how ministers must avoid causing stumbling so the gospel ministry is not discredited. Study the meaning and application.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul’s apostles take deliberate care not to place any stumbling block that would discredit the ministry of reconciliation.
- Key words: προσκοπή (stumbling block / occasion of falling) and μωμηθῇ (be blamed or blemished).
- Main debate: Whether the primary concern is avoiding causing others to sin or protecting the ministry’s reputation, commentaries show both concerns as inseparable.
- Theological theme: The credibility of the gospel is closely tied to the conduct of its messengers.
- Best use: A call to personal integrity and awareness of how one’s actions affect the reception of the gospel, applicable to all believers.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
WEB World English Bible 2000
We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
KJV King James Version 1769
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
giving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Giving no offence to any man, that our ministry be not blamed.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No dando á nadie ningún|strong="G1722, G3367" escándalo, porque el ministerio nuestro no sea vituperado:
Escândalo nenhum damos em coisa alguma, para que nosso trabalho não seja acusado.
Nous ne donnons aucun sujet de scandale en quoi que ce soit, afin que le ministère ne soit pas un objet de blâme.
Und wir geben niemand irgend ein Ärgernis, auf daß unser Amt nicht verlästert werde;
Wij geven geen aanstoot in enig ding, opdat de bediening niet gelasterd worde.
Noi non diamo motivo di scandalo in cosa alcuna, onde il ministerio non sia vituperato;
Żadnego w niczem nie dawając zgorszenia, aby nie było zganione usługiwanie nasze.
Мы никому ни в чем не полагаем претыкания, чтобы не было порицаемо служение,
我們 凡事 都不 叫人有 妨礙，免得 這職分 被人毀謗；
Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Corinthians 6:3
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Paul states a double concern: to avoid giving any cause for stumbling and to prevent the gospel ministry from being blamed. The Greek word προσκοπή (proskopē) means an obstacle or occasion of stumbling, something that leads another person into error or sin (Clarke, Gill). The verb μωμηθῇ (mōmēthē), used only here and in 2 Corinthians 8:20, carries Old Testament overtones of a blemished sacrifice (Vincent). Barnes notes that Paul aimed to give no ground for rejecting the gospel itself, and that the misconduct of one minister brings reproach on the whole calling. Calvin sees the apostle commending his own integrity as a living picture of a faithful servant. The verse introduces the list of hardships and virtues in verses 4, 10, where Paul shows how he removes every obstacle. There is no real tension between the two concerns: avoiding actions that cause others to stumble directly protects the ministry from blame.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Paul is unwavering in his commitment to conduct that does not discredit the gospel or lead others to stumble, and he grounds this in the pattern of his own life.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Focus of the verse | Paul aims to avoid any conduct that would cause others to stumble or discredit the gospel. | Some readers emphasise the moral dimension (avoiding personal sin and leading others into sin), while others emphasise the missional dimension (protecting the public reputation of the ministry). Both are present in the text. |
| Scope of 'ministry' (διακονία) | It refers to the service of proclaiming reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18), primarily exercised by apostles and preachers. | Some copyists read 'our ministry' (ἡ διακονία ἡμῶν), which would narrow the focus to Paul and his coworkers; the majority of manuscripts read 'the ministry,' a broader reference. Most commentators take the larger context as Paul’s own example that applies to all gospel servants. |
| Role of example in ministry | A minister’s life must match the message; hypocrisy undermines the gospel. | Calvin sees Paul primarily defending his own integrity against false accusations, while Barnes sees Paul setting a universal principle for every minister. Both views affirm that personal conduct either validates or invalidates the preaching. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Corinth was a bustling Roman colony known for its commerce, status-consciousness, and moral complexity. Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church had been strained by a painful visit and a severe letter (2 Corinthians 2:1, 4). False apostles had slandered him, questioning his motives, his speaking ability, and even his apostolic authority (2 Corinthians 11:5, 6). In this climate, every move the apostle made was scrutinized. A misstep could confirm his critics’ accusations and weaken the gospel’s progress.
Literarily, verse 3 returns to the thread of 2 Corinthians 6:1, which urges the Corinthians not to receive God’s grace in vain. Verse 2 is a parenthetical citation from Isaiah 49:8 about the day of salvation. Now Paul presents his own conduct as the supporting argument. The participle “giving” (διδόντες, present active) describes ongoing, habitual action, this is not a one-time decision but a pattern of life. The verb “blamed” (μωμηθῇ) is aorist passive subjunctive, expressing a potential outcome Paul is determined to forestall. In Roman society, a public figure’s behaviour could bring honour or shame on a whole group. Paul understood that if his ministry were discredited, the message of reconciliation would suffer. The list that follows (vv. 4, 10) deliberately mirrors the values of a Greco-Roman noble man but inverts them: Paul boasts in suffering, not in strength.
This context explains why the verse is both defensive and missional. Paul is not merely clearing his name; he is shaping a community that will embody the same integrity. The Corinthians, surrounded by pagan distrust of new religious movements, needed to see that the gospel does not produce scandal but self-giving endurance.
Textual Notes
The critical Greek text (NA28/UBS5) reads ἡ διακονία (the ministry) without a possessive pronoun. However, several manuscripts, including the majority Byzantine text, add ἡμῶν (our), making it “our ministry.” It is a typical scribal amplification; translators are divided: the KJV and Darby follow the majority text (“the ministry”), while some modern translations see the shorter reading as original.
Reception History
This verse has been central to Christian reflection on ministerial ethics. Early church writers such as John Chrysostom used it to argue that a preacher’s conduct must be beyond reproach to avoid hindering the word. During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant leaders cited the verse to call clergy to moral purity, especially in response to scandals that weakened the Church’s witness. In the modern era, the verse regularly appears in ordination charges and discussions about pastoral integrity, reminding ministers that their private lives have public consequences for the gospel.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Remove the obstacles. Paul uses προσκοπή, the same root as “stumbling block” in Romans 14:13. Before you can commend the gospel, you must clear the path. This includes sins, but also careless words, privileges insisted upon, or a spirit of indifference.
- Protect the message, not your image. The goal is that “the ministry be not blamed.” Paul’s concern is not personal reputation but the credibility of the gospel itself (Barnes). When a minister’s conduct is questioned, the whole Church shares the wound.
- Approved through hardship. The verses that follow show that Paul’s defence is not a polished speech but a catalogue of afflictions endured with patience, kindness, and love. The best apology for the gospel is a life that matches its claims.
Five-point outline
- One aim: no stumbling block. A single-minded commitment to avoid hindering anyone’s faith.
- One goal: an unblamed ministry. The ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) must not be discredited by the servant’s failures.
- The method: a present participle. “Giving” is constant action, not a moment of caution. It shapes every decision.
- The cost: personal limitation. Paul surrendered rights (1 Corinthians 9:12) to avoid any obstacle. He became weak to win the weak.
- The reward: the gospel advances. When no offence is given, the world sees a servant worthy of the Master.
Illustration hooks
- Public trust: A single journalist who plagiarizes brings suspicion on an entire newsroom. The misconduct of one can discredit a truthful organisation for years.
- Parental example: A parent who tells their child to be honest but then lies about a child’s age to get a discount on tickets. The inconsistency plants a stumbling block in the child’s conscience.
- Brand reputation: A company that claims to serve customers but treats them poorly loses not just sales but the chance to recommend its product. People reject the brand before they reject the pitch.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “What does it look like in daily life to ‘give no offence’? Does that mean I can never disagree or say something hard?”
- “If my boss or neighbour sees me make a mistake, does that permanently hurt my witness?”
- “How can I protect the reputation of the gospel without becoming obsessed with what others think of me?”
Leading a Discussion
Paul states a principle that he then demonstrates in practice. His goal is not personal image but gospel credibility. As a group, read 2 Corinthians 6:3 together, then work through how this principle applies to your own lives, not just for ministers but for every believer whose conduct reflects on Christ.
Discussion questions
- Read the verse in several translations (WEB, BSB, YLT, KJV). What differences do you notice in the key words “offence,” “stumbling,” and “ministry” or “service”?
- Why does Paul use the word προσκοπή (a stumbling block) rather than simply “sin”? How does that shape what he is warning against?
- Barnes says the misconduct of one minister brings reproach on the whole calling. Do you think this applies only to church leaders, or to all Christians? Give reasons from cross-references like 1 Corinthians 10:32, 33.
- Paul’s list of hardships in verses 4, 10 shows how he prevents the ministry from being blamed. Which item on that list challenges you most? Which one comforts you?
- How can a Christian’s ordinary day-to-day actions, at work, in the neighbourhood, online, become “stumbling blocks” without the person intending harm?
- What is the difference between being careful not to give offence and being controlled by people’s opinions? How does Paul’s example strike that balance?
- How can this group help each other identify and remove obstacles that might keep someone from taking the gospel seriously?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 17:27 | But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.” |
| Matthew 18:6 | but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea. |
| Romans 14:13 | Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. |
| I Corinthians 8:9 | But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. |
| I Corinthians 8:13 | Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble. |
| I Corinthians 9:12 | If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ. |
| I Corinthians 9:22 | To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. |
| I Corinthians 10:23 | “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are profitable. “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things build up. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke defines "offense" as anything that causes others to stumble, especially moral failures among ministers or believers. His concern is the public repute of the Gospel: when Christians fall into scandal, Jews and Gentiles use it as an excuse to reject or slander the message of Christ.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that a minister's misconduct does not harm only himself but brings reproach on the entire ministry and hinders the work of other ministers. Paul therefore made it his rule to live so that no one could blame the ministry because of him, knowing that respect for the calling must be earned by a life that matches its demands.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Paul is not just teaching a general principle here but holding up his own conduct as a living model of a faithful apostle. The Corinthians were wrong to admire boastful preachers who had only outward show while despising the very integrity that made Paul truly praiseworthy.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Paul's conduct was itself a form of preaching, as forceful as his spoken message of reconciliation. The Greek word for offence literally means something that dashes one to the ground and causes a fall, so Paul took care that nothing in his behavior would trip others up.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note emphasizes that the ministers deliberately avoid giving any cause for offense. Their goal is to ensure their ministry itself faces no blame or criticism, protecting the work from being discredited by their own actions.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Paul and his fellow ministers carefully avoided giving offense to anyone, whether Jew or Gentile, believer or outsider. Their aim was to prevent the gospel ministry from being blamed or hindered by their conduct. For Gill, a minister's behavior directly affects the progress and reception of the word.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that hearing the gospel is not enough; the grace of God is received in vain unless it is truly believed and obeyed. He finds it remarkable that Paul calls himself a coworker with God, showing the high honour of ministers who plead with people not to waste the offer of salvation.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights that the Greek word for blamed, used only here and in 2 Corinthians, originally referred to physical defects in the Septuagint. In the New Testament, it shifts to a moral sense, describing Christ's spotlessness and the blameless character required for ministry.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the believer's active duty to give no offense in anything, so that the ministry of the gospel is not blamed because of their conduct. The focus falls on personal vigilance: avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing to protect the reputation of those who serve.