But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
The order of the Greek is, 'In everything, as God's ministers, recommending ourselves' - i:e., that our hearers may receive favourably our message, through our consistency in every respect, not that they may glorify us. Alluding to 2 Corinthians 3:1, We commend ourselves, not, like them, by word, but by deed.
Patience (2 Corinthians 12:12) first; "pureness" next (2 Corinthians 6:6). The heaping together of such varied things implies how in adequate words are to describe the wide compass of objects. External afflictions are described as far as "fastings" (2 Corinthians 6:5); spiritual advantages as far as "by the power of God" (2 Corinthians 6:7); then come contrasts, in which the graces conquer the afflictions. Three triplets of trials exercising "patience" х hupomonee (G5281), patient endurance] follow it: afflictions х thlipseesin (G2347), 'tribulations'], necessities, distresses х stenochooriais (G4730), 'straits']; stripes, imprisonments, tumults; labours, watchings, fastings. The first triplet expresses afflictions generally; the second, those arising from men's violence; the third, those he brought on himself directly or indirectly. All prove his right to exhort them authoritatively, and his fitness to be their example.