Devine Scripture

2 Corinthians 6:8

What does 2 Corinthians 6:8 mean?

A plain-English look at 2 Corinthians 6:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 2 Corinthians 6:8 means

Public opinion swings wildly: sometimes honor, sometimes shame; sometimes favorable reports, sometimes slander. Paul acknowledges that ministers can be branded deceivers even when they are truthful. Such volatility tests motives and identity. The point is that integrity must not rise or fall with reputation. A servant fixed on God’s verdict can navigate both applause and accusation without losing faithfulness. The contrast exposes how the world’s judgments can be mistaken, even reversed by God’s perspective. Being called a deceiver does not make one false if the message is true; being praised does not make one right if the heart is corrupt. Faithfulness matters more than optics.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

By glory and by shame, by an evil name and a good name; as untrue, and still true;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

By honour and dishonour: by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true: as unknown and yet known:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and true;

Context

The paradoxes begin in earnest here and continue through verses 9–10. After equipping imagery in verse 7, Paul shows what it defends against: fluctuating honor and hostile misrepresentation. These lines are not complaints but testimony to God’s sustaining work in varied circumstances. The next verses extend the pattern—unknown yet well known, dying yet living—to reveal the deep contrast between outward appearance and inward spiritual reality, building to the climactic summary in verse 10.

v.7in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

v.8This passage

v.9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 5:11

    Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

  • Romans 3:8

    and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.

  • 3 John 1:12

    Demetrius hath the witness of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness; and thou knowest that our witness is true.

  • Acts 4:21

    And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.

  • Acts 22:12

    And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,

  • Acts 14:11

    And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

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