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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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
2 Corinthians 6
6
1In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted. 2#Is 49.8Hear what God says:
“When the time came for me to show you favour
I heard you;
when the day arrived for me to save you,
I helped you.”
Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favour; today is the day to be saved!
3We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. 4Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. 5#Acts 16.23We have been beaten, imprisoned, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. 6By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants — by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, 7by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 8We are honoured and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth; 9as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed; 10although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.
11Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. 12It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. 13I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!
Warning against Pagan Influences
14Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? 15How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16#Lev 26.12; Ezek 37.27; 1 Cor 3.16; 6.19How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said:
“I will make my home with my people
and live among them;
I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.”
17 #
Is 52.11
And so the Lord says,
“You must leave them
and separate yourselves from them.
Have nothing to do with what is unclean,
and I will accept you.
18 #
2 Sam 7.14; 1 Chr 17.13; Is 43.6; Jer 31.9 I will be your father,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.