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
1 LABORING TOGETHER [as God's fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them–do not receive it to no purpose].
2 For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance [of you from God]; behold, now is the day of salvation! [Isa. 49:8.]
3 We put no obstruction in anybody's way [we give no offense in anything], so that no fault may be found and [our] ministry blamed and discredited.
4 But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,
5 In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;
6 By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;
7 By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend];
8 Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest.
9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed;
10 As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians [we are hiding nothing, keeping nothing back], and our heart is expanded wide [for you]! [Isa. 60:5; Ezek. 33:22.]
12 There is no lack of room for you in [our hearts], but you lack room in your own affections [for us].
13 By way of return then, do this for me–I speak as to children–open wide your hearts also [to us].
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. [Exod. 25:8; 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Jer. 31:1; Ezek. 37:27.]
17 So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, [Isa. 52:11.]
18 And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [Isa. 43:6; Hos. 1:10.]
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