Bible Strands
2 Corinthians 6:9
unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church while cataloging the contradictions of his apostolic labor. He places this description between his list of public misperceptions and his parallel list of spiritual paradoxes.
The words — The participles ἀγνοούμενοι (agnooumenoi) and ἐπιγινώσκόμενοι (epiginōskomenoi) literally mean "being unknown" and "being well-known." Paul pairs these terms to describe the shifting public perception of his ministry.
The thread — This pattern of enduring death while manifesting life appears in 2 Corinthians 4:10, where Paul carries the death of Jesus so that Jesus' life may be revealed in his body. It also aligns with the quotation in Romans 8:36 regarding being counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
Why it lands — The text states that apostolic work continues through paradoxes of obscurity, death, and punishment. It requires readers to accept that spiritual vitality operates independently of worldly recognition or physical safety.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 4:10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
- Romans 8:36 As it is written: “For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:8 We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Psalms 118:17 I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.
- 1 Corinthians 4:9 For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
- 2 Corinthians 11:6 Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.
- Acts 17:18 Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
- Acts 19:26 And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all.
- Acts 21:37 As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.