2 Corinthians 6:8; By Evil Report and Good Report
2 Corinthians 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
The word translated as evil report, (dusjhmia) “δυσφημία” means bad language, hence slander, reproach, evil report.
William MacDonald observed well, “The true servant of God is the object of evil report and good report. Some speak well of his zeal and courage, whereas others have only condemnation for him.”
The Apostle Paul has no reputation expect the reputation of His Master as he testified in Philippians 1:20-21 “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Whereas before his conversion, his sole object was to persecute Christians. Now, his sole object in life was to glorify Christ. And he persevered by the grace to live for Christ.
While in Thessalonica, because of the preaching of the gospel, he and the gospel team were described as “these that have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). This was the background to these words, Acts 17:2-4 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.“
God enabled him, by Christ’s example, to overcome and continue to preach the gospel – 2 Corinthians 13:4 “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” Amen.