Afflictions of God’s Servants

6 Now because we^[a] are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says,

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! ³ We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it, ⁴ but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties, ⁵ in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry, ⁶ in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy, ⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand, ⁸ through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful, ⁹ as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death, ¹⁰ as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken freely and openly^[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. ¹³ Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked with Unbelievers

¹⁴ Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? ¹⁵ And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said,