2 Corinthians 6:2

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Corinthians 6:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):
2 Corinthians 6:2 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Corinthians 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, etc..] These words are a citation from (<234908>Isaiah 49:8) and are spoken by the Father to Christ, declaring he had heard him, as he always did. He heard him when he put up that prayer to him, recorded (<431701>John 17:1-26) for the glorification of himself, by strengthening him as man in his work, by raising him from the dead, setting him at his own right hand, and giving him the glory he had with him before the world was; for the good of his people, the preservation of those that were called, the conversion of them that are called, and the glorification of all the Father had given him: he heard him in the garden, and answered him; the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For--God's own promise is the ground of our exhortation. he saith--God the Father saith to God the Son, and so to all believers who are regarded as one with Him. heard thee--In the eternal purposes of my love I have hearkened to thy prayer for the salvation of thy people (compare Joh 17:9, Joh 17:15, Joh 17:20, Joh 17:24). accepted . . . accepted--The Greek of the latter is more emphatic, "well-accepted." What was "an accepted time" in the prophecy (Isa 49:8, Hebrew, "in the season of grace") becomes "the well-accepted time" in the fulfilment (compare Psa 69:13). As it is God's time of receiving sinners, receive ye His grace: accept (Co2 6:1) the word of reconciliation in His accepted time.…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For he saith - see Isaiah 49:8. In that passage the declaration refers to the Messiah, and the design is there to show that God would be favorable to him; that he would hear him when he prayed, and would make him the medium of establishing a covenant with his own people, and of spreading the true religion around the earth; see my note on that place. Paul quotes the passage here not as affirming that he used it in exactly the sense, or with reference to the same design for which it was originally spoken, but as expressing the idea which he wished to convey, or in accordance with the general principle implied in its use in Isaiah. The general idea there, or the principle involved, was, that…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For he saith - The sense is, As of old there was a particular time wherein God was pleased to pour out his peculiar blessing, so there is now. And this is the particular time: this is a time of peculiar blessing. Isa 49:8. 2 Corinthians 6:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:2 This quotation from Isa 49:8 clinches the point that God’s offer of salvation could secure reconciliation between Paul and the Corinthians; their reconciliation with Paul would follow naturally from their true acceptance of the Good News.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a time: Isa 49:8, Isa 61:2; Eze 16:8; Luk 4:19, Luk 19:42-44; Heb 3:7, Heb 3:13, Heb 4:7 2 Corinthians 6:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification