2 Corinthians 6
6
1We work together with God. So we are asking you not to receive God’s grace and then do nothing with it. 2He says,
“When I had mercy on you, I heard you.
On the day I saved you, I helped you.” (Isaiah 49:8)
I tell you, now is the time God has mercy. Now is the day he saves.
Paul’s Sufferings
3We don’t put anything in anyone’s way. So no one can find fault with our work for God. 4Instead, we make it clear that we serve God in every way. We serve him by standing firm in troubles, hard times and suffering. 5We don’t give up when we are beaten or put in prison. When people stir up trouble in the streets, we continue to serve God. We work hard for him. We go without sleep and food. 6We remain pure. We understand completely what it means to serve God. We are patient and kind. We serve him in the power of the Holy Spirit. We serve him with true love. 7We speak the truth. We serve in the power of God. We hold the weapons of godliness in the right hand and in the left. 8We serve God in times of glory and shame. We serve him whether the news about us is bad or good. We are true to our calling. But people treat us as if we were pretenders. 9We are known, but people treat us as if we were unknown. We are dying, but we continue to live. We are beaten, but we are not killed. 10We are sad, but we are always full of joy. We are poor, but we make many people rich. We have nothing, but we own everything.
11Believers at Corinth, we have spoken freely to you. We have opened our hearts wide to you. 12We are not holding back our love from you. But you are holding back your love from us. 13I speak to you as if you were my children. It is only fair that you open your hearts wide to us also.
Paul Warns Against Worshiping False Gods
14Do not be joined to unbelievers. What do right and wrong have in common? Can light and darkness be friends? 15How can Christ and Satan agree? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16How can the temple of the true God and the statues of other gods agree? We are the temple of the living God. God has said,
“I will live with them.
I will walk among them.
I will be their God.
And they will be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27)
17So,
“Come out from among them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Do not touch anything that is not pure and ‘clean.’
Then I will receive you.” (Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41)
18And,
“I will be your Father.
You will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord who rules over all.” (2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8)
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2 Corinthians 6
6
1Working together # Or As we work together with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” 2For He says:
I heard you in an acceptable time,
and I helped you in the day of salvation. # Is 49:8 # Is 49:8
Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. # Is 49:8; 55:6; Lk 4:19; Heb 3:13
The Character of Paul’s Ministry
3We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:
by great endurance, by afflictions,
by hardship, by difficulties,
5by beatings, by imprisonments, # Jdg 16:21
by riots, by labors,
by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,
6by purity, # 2Co 11:3 by knowledge, # Php 3:8; 1Jn 4:8
by patience, # Ex 34:6; 2Tm 3:10 by kindness, # Rm 2:4; 3:12; 11:22; Gl 5:22; Eph 2:7; Col 3:12; Ti 3:4
by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, # 1Co 13:1
7by the message of truth, # 2Th 2:10
by the power of God; # Mk 5:30; Lk 1:35; 6:19; Ac 19:11; 2Co 13:4; Rv 11:17
through weapons of righteousness
on the right hand and the left,
8through glory # 1Pt 5:4 and dishonor,
through slander and good report;
as deceivers yet true;
9as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look — we live;
as being disciplined yet not killed;
10as grieving yet always rejoicing; # Mt 5:4; Jn 16:22; 2Co 7:4; Php 1:4,25; 2:17-18; 3:1; 4:1,4; Col 1:24; 1Th 1:6; 1Pt 1:6-8
as poor yet enriching many;
as having nothing yet possessing everything.
11We have spoken openly # Lit Our mouths have been open to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. 13I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.
Separation to God
14Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? # Mt 13:41 Or what fellowship does light # Jn 12:46 have with darkness? # Mt 6:23 15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? # Or Beliar, a name for the Devil or antichrist in extra-biblical Jewish writings Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols? # Gn 31:19; 1Co 8:4 For we # Other mss read you are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell among them # Jms 4:5
and walk among them,
and I will be their God, # Heb 3:6
and they will be My people. # Lv 26:12 # Lv 26:12; Jr 31:33; 32:38; Ezk 37:26
17Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you. # Is 52:11 # Is 52:11
18I will be a Father # Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42; Eph 5:20 to you,
and you will be sons # Mt 5:9 and daughters to Me,
says the Lord Almighty. # 2Sm 7:14; Rv 1:8 # 2Sm 7:14; Is 43:6; 49:22; 60:4; Hs 1:10
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