Giving no offence in anything
These words are in connection with ( 2
Corinthians 6:1 ) and to be considered either as a
continuation of the exhortation to others, that they would take
care to give no offence to any; or rather as an account the
apostle gives of himself, and other ministers, by way of example;
and is as if he had said, I Paul, Timotheus, Silvanus, and other
ministers of the word, take all possible care to lay no
stumblingblock in the way of the hearers of the Gospel; to give
no offence to them that are without, or to them that are within,
to Jew or Gentile, or to the church of God, neither by word nor
writing, by doctrine or conversation, or in any way whatever:
that the ministry be not blamed; the ministry of the word of
reconciliation, which they had received of the Lord Jesus. The
apostle knew there were persons enow who were waiting all
opportunities, and taking all advantages to vilify and reproach
the ministry of the Gospel, and so hinder its progress and
spread; and that if that was once brought into contempt by the
disagreeable conduct of the preachers of it, there would be but
little hope of success from it. Some copies read, "our ministry";
and so the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; the Ethiopic
version reads, "your ministry".