1As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.2For he says, ‘In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. (Isa 49:8)
Paul’s hardships
3We put no stumbling-block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.13As a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also.
Warning against idolatry
14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[1]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’[2] (Le 26:12; Jer 32:38; Eze 37:27)17Therefore, ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’[3] (Isa 52:11; Eze 20:34; Eze 20:41)18And, ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’ (2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 7:14)
2 Corinthians 6
English Standard Version
1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (Mr 16:20; Ac 15:4; 1Co 3:9; 2Co 5:20; Heb 12:15)2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (Ps 32:6; Ps 69:13; Isa 49:8; Isa 55:6; Lu 4:19; Heb 3:13)3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, (1Co 8:13; 1Co 9:12)4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, (Ac 9:16; 2Co 3:6; 2Co 12:10; 2Co 12:12; 1Th 3:2; 2Ti 2:24; 2Ti 3:10)5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; (Ac 16:23; Ac 17:5; 2Co 11:23)6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; (Ro 12:9; Ro 15:19; 2Co 11:6; 1Th 1:5; 1Th 2:10; Jas 3:17)7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; (1Co 2:5; 2Co 10:4; Eph 1:13; Eph 6:11; Col 1:5)8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; (Ro 3:8)9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; (Ps 118:18; 2Co 4:10; 2Co 11:6)10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (Pr 13:7; Joh 16:22; Ac 3:6; 1Co 1:5; 1Co 7:30; 2Co 7:4; 2Co 8:9)11We have spoken freely to you,[1] Corinthians; our heart is wide open. (Ps 119:32; 2Co 7:3; 2Co 11:11; 2Co 12:15)12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. (2Co 7:2)13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (1Co 4:14; Ga 4:12)
The Temple of the Living God
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (De 7:3; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:2; Ne 13:25; Ac 26:18; 1Co 7:39; Eph 5:7; Eph 5:11; 1Jo 1:6)15What accord has Christ with Belial?[2] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? (1Co 10:21)16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Ex 6:7; Ex 29:45; Le 26:12; Jer 31:33; Eze 11:20; 1Co 3:16; Eph 2:22; Re 2:1; Re 21:3)17Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (Isa 52:11; Eze 20:34; Eze 20:41; Zep 3:20; 2Co 7:1; Re 18:4)18and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (Ex 4:22; 2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 7:14; Isa 43:6; Jer 31:9; Ho 1:10; Re 21:7)