2 Corinthians 6:1-13

American Standard Version

6 ¹And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain ²(for he saith,

^[a]At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee,
And in a day of salvation did I succor thee:

behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): ³giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; ⁴but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much ^[b]patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, ⁵in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; ⁶in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, ⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God; ^[c]by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged. ¹²Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections. ¹³Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 6:2 Isa. 49:8.
2 Corinthians 6:4 Or, stedfastness
2 Corinthians 6:7 Greek through.

2 Corinthians 6:1-13

New International Version

6 As God’s co-workers^(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^(B) ²For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[a]^(C)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(D) 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^(E) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^(F) ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(G) and in sincere love;^(H) ⁷in truthful speech^(I) and in the power of God;^(J) with weapons of righteousness^(K) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,^(L) bad report^(M) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^(N) ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(O) and yet we live on;^(P) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(Q) poor, yet making many rich;^(R) having nothing,^(S) and yet possessing everything.^(T)

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.^(U) 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^(V)—open wide your hearts^(W) also.