Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Corinthians 6:7
By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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.
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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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.
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. By the word of truth, by thepower of Godrather, “IN. . . in,” c. As to “the word of truth” (compare2Co 4:2 Col 1:5),and “the (miraculous) power of God” (2Co4:7); 1Co 2:4, “indemonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
by the armourGreek,“through” or “by means of the armor.””Righteousness,” which is the breastplate alone inEph 6:13-17, here ismade the whole Christian panoply (compare 2Co10:4).
on . . . right . . . and . .. leftthat is, guarding on every side.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
By the word of truth,…. By preaching the Gospel, truly, sincerely, without any adulteration of it, which comes from the God of truth, has for its subject matter Christ, who is the truth, and into which ministers are guided by the Spirit of truth, and every doctrine of which is truth:
by the power of God; accompanying the word to the conversion and salvation of multitudes of souls; or by the signs, wonders, and miracles which were wrought for the confirmation of it:
by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand, and on the left: meaning, either the whole armour of God, with which a Christian is all over clothed from head to foot, and in the strength of Christ may engage any adversary without fear; or else particularly the sword of the Spirit in the right hand, and the shield of faith in the left, whereby both the offensive and defensive part may be acted; or, as others think, uprightness of conscience, and holiness of life and conversation; with which being blessed, though on the one hand he meets with prosperity, and on the other hand with adversity, he is not lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other; he is moved by neither, but passes on unconcerned.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
On the right hand and on the left ( ). Offensive weapons () on the right, defensive on the left. See 1Thess 5:8; Eph 6:11 for Paul’s description of the panoply of God and Ro 6:13 for the phrase “weapons of righteousness,” the only kind that will stand the strain. See also Book of Wisdom 5:18ff.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Right – left. Right – hand and left – hand weapons. Offensive, as the sword, in the right hand, defensive, as the shield, in the left.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “By the word of truth,” (en logo aletheias) “in a word (or expression) of truth,” by being, or in being truthful, commending ourselves. The preaching of the Gospel is that word or declaration of truth, 1Co 15:1-4; Gal 1:4-12; 2Co 7:14.
2) “By the power of God,” (en dunamei theou) “in the power of God,” in the realm of God’s power, commending ourselves; thru the preaching of the gospel of power, manifested in and through us. Rom 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Co 2:4.
3) “By the armour of righteousness,” (dia ton hoplon tes dikaiosunes) “Through the weapons of righteousness,” commending ourselves, 2Co 10:4; Eph 6:11; Eph 6:13.
4) “On the right hand and on the left,” (ton deksion kai aristeron) “Of the right (hand) and of the left (hand);” “with both hands sheathed with the armor or righteousness,” with a shield in one hand and a sword in the other with both offensive and defensive weapons; Rom 12:12-13; Eph 5:11; 1Th 5:8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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. (593)
(593) “Here the spiritual arms are not particularized; yet the terms τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν, ( on the right hand and the left,) are very comprehensive, referring to the complete armor and arms, on both sides, with which the ὁπλίτης, or completely armed soldier was furnished, who was thus said to be ἀμφιδέξιος ( ambidexter .) Thus the general sense is: ‘We employ no other arms than the panoply of righteousness. ’” — Bloomfield. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(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 objectivethe 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.)
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. Pauls 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Word preached, of gospel truth.
Power of God Supernatural efficiency both in word and deed; prophecy and miracle.
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘By the armour (‘weapons’) of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.’
This next series commences with ‘by’ or ‘through’, and is a series of contrasts pointing to his positive approach to life. The weapons or armour of righteousness are on both right and left hand, the one possibly having in mind sword or spear, the other shield or knife, all used both for attacking and defensive purposes. Or it may refer to armour which protects on all sides. For the essential idea is that the warrior is fully protected and is equipped for both attack and defence. To consider the fuller ideas lying behind this we can turn to Eph 6:10-18. They are ‘put on’ by establishment in, and use of, the truth of the word of God.
‘The armour/weapons of righteousness.’ Compare the ‘breastplate of righteousness’ (Eph 6:14). The idea is taken from Isa 59:17. There the idea is of vindication and deliverance. It describes the triumph of God in ‘righteousness’, whereby He righteously delivers and brings righteousness to men and men to righteousness. Thus through God it is righteousness which triumphs, and Paul also goes forward in Him, armoured in His active and redeeming righteousness, (as do we – Eph 6:14), to bring men to reconciliation and salvation (the righteousness of God – 2Co 5:21). The Corinthians can therefore be sure that he uses only righteous methods.
But righteousness also protects. Thus we are protected from all assaults of the enemy because we are immersed in the righteousness of God (2Co 5:21), and accounted as righteous in God’s sight, and because we live righteous lives, a righteousness which, being lived out, confuses our opponents (1Pe 3:16). Thus we must see ‘righteousness’ here as God’s righteousness in all its many facets as it works in and through our lives.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
2Co 6:7. By the armour of righteousness “While our enemies assault on every side, it is our care still to be clothed and girded about with the armour of righteousness, both on the right hand and on the left; well knowing that armour to be impenetrable.” On the right hand, and on the left, means on every side;perfectly and entirely. Some refer it to the Christian’s being armed, through grace, against the temptations of prosperity and adversity. Mr. Locke’s paraphrase is, “By uprightness of mind, wherewith I am armed at all points, both to do and to suffer.” It is scarcely necessary to observe to the reader, how extremely sublime and pathetic this whole passage is. Comp Php 4:18. 1Ti 6:17. Eph 1:3. Rev 21:7. 1Co 3:21-23.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Co 6:7 . The enumerations hitherto made related generally to the conduct and character of God’s servants; now the stream, swelling ever more boldly, passes over to the province of the teacher’s work , and pours itself forth from 2Co 6:8 in a succession of contrasts between seeming and being, which are so many triumphs of the apostle’s clear self-assuranc.
.] through discourse of truth , i.e. through doctrine, the character of which is truth . Comp. 2Co 2:17 , 2Co 4:2 . It will not do to take, with Rckert, . . objectively , as equivalent to , because, as at Eph 1:13 , Col 1:5 , the article could not have been omitte.
] through power of God , which shows itself efficacious in our work of teaching, 2Co 4:7 . Comp. 1Co 2:4 ; 1Co 4:20 . The limitation to the miracles is arbitrary (Theophylact, comp. Emmerling and Flatt).
. . . .] is by Grotius connected with what precedes ( Dei virtute nobis arma subministrante , etc.); but seeing that other independent points are afterwards introduced by , we must suppose that Paul, who elsewhere without any special purpose varies in his use of equivalent prepositions, passes from the instrumental to the instrumental , so that we have here also a special point: through the weapons, which righteousness furnishes . The is to be taken in the usual dogmatic sense. Comp. ., Eph 6:15 . It is the righteousness of faith which makes us strong and victorious in the way of assault or defence against all opposing powers. See the noble commentary of the apostle himself in Rom 8:31-39 . It has been explained of moral integrity (comp. Rom 6:13 ; Rom 6:19 ; Eph 5:9 ; Eph 6:14 ), the genitive being taken either as ad justitiam implendam (Grotius), or as weapons, which the consciousness of integrity gives (Erasmus, Beza, Calvin, Billroth), or which are allowed to a moral man and are at his command (Rckert), or which minister to that which is of right (Hofmann), and the like; but the explanation has this against it, that the context contains absolutely nothing which leads us away from the habitual Pauline conception of , as it was most definitely expressed even at 2Co 5:21 , whereas the idea of stands in quite a Pauline connection with that of . See Rom 1:16-17 . Hence there is no ground for uniting the two conceptions of (Osiander), or for explaining it of righteousness as a quality of God which works through Paul (Kling). The explanation: arma justa , legitimate weapons (Flatt, following Heumann and Morus), is out of the questio.
.] right-hand and left-hand arms, an apportioning specification of the whole armament. The former are the weapons of attack wielded with the right hand, the latter are the weapons of defence (shield); the warrior needs both together . Hence it was unsuitable to refer the former specially to res prosperas , the latter to res adversas (Erasmus, Estius, Grotius, Bengel, and others, following the Fathers): “ne prosperis elevemur, nec frangamur adversis,” Pelagius. Comp. rather, on the subject-matter, 2Co 10:4 f.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
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.)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
7. . .] is taken by De W., Meyer, al., as subjective, ‘in speaking, or teaching truth’ ‘ in discourse, the contents whereof were truth :’ but their objection against the sense in the word of truth , = , as it is expressed Col 1:5 , is not valid, on account (1) of the government by a preposition, which would make the insertion of the article optional, (2) of the whole catalogue being anarthrous, which would cause the article to be omitted for uniformity’s sake.
. ] viz. the Power spoken of ch. 2Co 4:7 , the power manifested in every part of our apostolic working, not merely in miracles.
. . . .] By means of ( is changed for , first apparently on account of , marking them more distinctly as instruments , and then continued) the weapons of righteousness ( belonging to , or as Meyer, furnished by, the righteousness which is of faith . That panoply, part of which only in the more particular specification of Eph 6:13-17 , viz. the , is allotted to , is here all assigned to it.
Some of the ancient Commentators, Chrys., cum., al., and Grot., Estius, al., understand by , ‘ instruments ,’ as in Rom 6:13 , and interpret these instruments to be, situations and opportunities of life , whether prosperous, , or adverse, : but the other interpretation is in better accordance with the Apostle’s habit of comparison, see ch. 2Co 10:4 ; Eph 6:13 ff.; 1Th 5:8 ).
. . .] which are on the right and left : i.e. encompassing and guarding the whole person. Grot., Bengel, and most recent Commentators, even De W. and Meyer, explain it, both righthanded , i.e. of attack , the sword and spear, and left-handed , i.e. of defence , the shield: but it seems to me that this would require: : whereas now, no article being inserted before ., it is implied that the panoply ( ) is on both sides ( . ) of the person. On the interpretation prosperity and adversity , see above.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
word. App-121.10.
power. App-172.
by = through. App-104. 2Co 6:1.
armour. Greek. hoplon. Either arms or armour. See Rom 6:13. The Greek soldier carried a sword or spear in his right hand and a shield in his left.
righteousness. Greek. dikaiosune. App-191.3. Compare Eph 6:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
7. . .] is taken by De W., Meyer, al., as subjective,-in speaking, or teaching truth-in discourse, the contents whereof were truth: but their objection against the sense in the word of truth, = , as it is expressed Col 1:5, is not valid, on account (1) of the government by a preposition, which would make the insertion of the article optional,-(2) of the whole catalogue being anarthrous, which would cause the article to be omitted for uniformitys sake.
. ] viz. the Power spoken of ch. 2Co 4:7,-the power manifested in every part of our apostolic working,-not merely in miracles.
. . . .] By means of ( is changed for , first apparently on account of , marking them more distinctly as instruments,-and then continued) the weapons of righteousness (belonging to,-or as Meyer, furnished by, the righteousness which is of faith. That panoply, part of which only in the more particular specification of Eph 6:13-17, viz. the , is allotted to ,-is here all assigned to it.
Some of the ancient Commentators,-Chrys., cum., al., and Grot., Estius, al., understand by , instruments, as in Rom 6:13, and interpret these instruments to be, situations and opportunities of life, whether prosperous, , or adverse, : but the other interpretation is in better accordance with the Apostles habit of comparison,-see ch. 2Co 10:4; Eph 6:13 ff.; 1Th 5:8).
. . .] which are on the right and left: i.e. encompassing and guarding the whole person. Grot., Bengel, and most recent Commentators, even De W. and Meyer, explain it, both righthanded,-i.e. of attack, the sword and spear,-and left-handed,-i.e. of defence, the shield: but it seems to me that this would require: : whereas now, no article being inserted before ., it is implied that the panoply ( ) is on both sides ( . ) of the person. On the interpretation prosperity and adversity, see above.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
2Co 6:7. ) by offensive armour, when we are prospering; and defensive, when we are in difficulties. In the case of soldiers, , , or signifies towards the right hand; the , or , signifies, towards the left hand, just as the left hand is called by the French, the bridle hand (main de la bride), and the right hand is called the lance hand (main de la lance). Add the note to Chrysost. de Sacerd., p. 464. Paul has so placed these words, that they might at the same time form a transition; for he just now treated of the armour for the right hand, and he is forthwith about to treat of that for the left.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
2Co 6:7
2Co 6:7
in the word of truth,-Paul had kept his private life in fit condition for the ministry, he had likewise demeaned himself publicly as a true apostle. He had kept his heart loyal to the truth, and likewise his tongue faithful to its proclamation, in the power of God;-[The power of God (2Co 4:7) comprises the whole of his ministerial activity, and the context shows that the power to which reference is made is his disciplinary courage and firmness. It might have seemed ungracious to allude to this here had he not been charged with weakness on one side and severity on the other. He claimed no power of his own, for it was Gods, but as he had exercised it decisively in one case (1Co 5:4), he might use it so again, if his warnings were neglected. At the same time he could not exercise Gods power, to wrong, to destroy, or to serve grasping purposes (2Co 7:2), as his adversaries employed their power.]
by the armor of righteousness-[The power of God suggests the weapons by which it is exerted. They are the weapons of righteousness, nor could Gods power be put forth by any other. The general idea is best explained in another passage. (2Co 10:3-4). In that passage, mighty before God corresponds with the power of God here, and we do not war according to the flesh there is the opposite of the armor of righteousness here. This comparison indicates that he means weapons of integrity which smite with perfect impartiality, undirected, and unhindered by fear or favor or any regard for self.]
on the right hand and on the left,-[Paul was no more afraid, as was falsely said, to assail with his right hand pagan corruption than he was to pull down Judaizing strongholds (2Co 10:4-5), and that he was equally ready to meet with his left hand by all righteous means in his power every blow aimed at him in his office or person.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
righteousness
(See Scofield “1Jn 3:7”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
the word: 2Co 1:18-20, 2Co 4:2, 2Co 7:14, Psa 119:43, Eph 1:13, Eph 4:21, Col 1:5, 2Ti 2:15, Jam 1:18
the power: 2Co 10:4, 2Co 10:5, 2Co 13:4, Mar 16:20, Act 11:21, 1Co 1:24, 1Co 2:4, 1Co 2:5, Eph 1:19, Eph 1:20, Eph 3:20, Heb 2:4
the armour: Isa 11:5, Isa 59:17, Rom 13:12, Rom 13:13, Eph 6:11, Eph 6:13, Eph 6:14-20, 1Th 5:8, 2Ti 4:7
on the right: Exo 14:22, Pro 3:16
Reciprocal: Num 4:23 – to perform the service Neh 4:17 – with one Job 29:14 – I put Zec 12:6 – on the right Joh 18:11 – Put Phi 4:10 – ye lacked 1Ti 3:15 – the truth 1Ti 6:12 – Fight 2Ti 1:8 – according
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Co 6:7. Word of truth was that offered in the Gospel, as opposed to the false theories of the Greek philosophers. Power of God was given credit for his success and not placing it on his individual ability. Armor of righteousness. The strongest protection one can have against any successful attack upon his character that the enemy may make, is a life of constant righteousness. That is why it is called a “breastplate” in Eph 6:14.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
2Co 6:7. in the word of truth … by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the leftby our conscious rectitude, which, amid all attacks both from open and concealed enemies, is our defence wherever we turn. So we take these words (with Calvin). To understand it of the righteousness which is of faith (as Meyer does, and Alford after him), seems here out of place.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 7 Paul relied on God’s word and power. He was ready to defend with God’s righteous armor on the left hand and attack with God’s righteousness on the right.
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
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],
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Verse 7
On the right hand and on the left; protected by it on all sides.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
6:7 By the {d} word of truth, by the {e} power of God, by the {f} armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
(d) Preaching of the Gospel.
(e) Power to work miracles, and to subdue the wicked.
(f) Uprightness.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Paul next described some of the conditions under which he ministered and some of the methods he used.
"Weapons" may refer to the sword of the Spirit (the Word of God) and the shield of faith (cf. Rom 6:13; Eph 6:11-17; 1Th 5:8). The right hand normally attacked with a sword and the left defended with a shield. However these are "weapons of righteousness," the spiritual weapons that God supplies. Another possibility, not necessary mutually exclusive, is that "weapons of righteousness" may refer to the weapons that come from doing right: personal integrity. Righteousness often refers to right conduct in the New Testament. The right and left hands may then be a figurative expression (merism) for all acts.
". . . one so equipped is prepared to meet attack from any quarter . . ." [Note: Hughes, p. 231.]