Paul has balanced his 9-trials (3-sets of triads) with 9-inner qualities which he has developed over the time through the Holy Spirit: (6:6-7)
- Purity (practical righteousness): Paul was sincere and honest in his thinking for the churches he founded. He was always thinking for their betterment.
- Understanding (practical knowledge): Although Paul had faced stiff opposition in Corinthian church, he understood their problems. He forgave the people who repented of their dreadful sins and those who opposed him vehemently.
- Patience: To bear under difficult circumstances without retaliation: The Corinthian members were very difficult people, their leaders were too. Yet Paul gently spoke to them, rebuked of their sins, sent Timothy and Titus to follow them up.
- Kindness (love in action): It is also the sympathetic disposition and manifests itself in good action.
- Holy Spirit: Paul lived under the influence of Holy Spirit. He knew that he was sent as an ambassador to the Asia minor and Europe. For him the ministry was his call.
- Sincere love: Sincere love desires the best things for others. Paul was willing to forgive the Corinthian church leaders because they were not faithful to the apostle. Many times they were carried away by false teachers.
- Word of Truth: Paul knew that only the Gospel could change the lives of Corinthians. He was faithful to preach the true Gospel, the Word of God.
- The power of God: Paul was able to stand up only through the power of God, in the face of stiff opposition from Corinthians. Not only in Corinth, but also in Philip and Thessalonica. That’s why he was able to say that God’s grace was sufficient for him.
- Armour of righteousness to right and left hand: Paul’s enemies gave bad report saying he was a dishonourable deceiver. But God gave a good report of Paul as a man who was honourable and true. Paul knew that he was righteous before God. The Judaizers were accusing him. False teachers were their way accusing Paul’s Paul knew that he was clean in his consciousness. Whatever may be the accusations, God’s righteousness is with him and he can overcome all his opponent’s accusations.
Each virtue is a priceless asset.
A gesture of reciprocation: (6:11-13):
Paul speaks to Corinthians that he truly loved them. They can look into their hearts and search in their hearts. He had heartfelt feelings for them but their response was too little. He wants the same kind of response from the Corinthians. An open rebuke is better than secret love, so Paul wants them to be open to them all matters of faith and the affairs of the church.
A plea for separation:: (6:14-16): It is the basic rule that opposites cannot function together. Paul speaks of unequal yokes. Even in O.T Moses spoke of such unequal yokes in (Lev. 19:19). Paul urges the believers not to have binding relations with unbelievers. Otherwise their faith would be weakened. Here Paul gives 5-examples of contrasts which would be a mismatch. Paul was not talking of isolation life which some believers have wrongly interpreted. There are some groups viz. exclusive brethrens, puritans etc. They have gone too extreme and cannot live in this world. For them it would be difficult to involve and fulfil God’s final command.