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2 Corinthians 6
Christian Standard Bible

6 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 For he says:

At an acceptable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.[a](A)

See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!(B)

The Character of Paul’s Ministry

3 We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 Instead, as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, 5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(C) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, 6 by purity,(D) by knowledge,(E) by patience,(F) by kindness,(G) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(H) 7 by the word of truth,[b](I) by the power of God;(J) through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 through glory(K) and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; 9 as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see—we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; 10 as grieving, yet always rejoicing;(L) as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us.

Separation to God

14 Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(M) Or what fellowship does light(N) have with darkness?(O) 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?[c] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?(P) For we[d] are the temple of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell(Q)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,(R)
and they will be my people.[e](S)
17 Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.[f](T)
18 And I will be a Father(U) to you,
and you will be sons(V) and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.[g](W)

Footnotes

  1. 6:2 Is 49:8
  2. 6:7 Or by truthful speech
  3. 6:15 Or Beliar
  4. 6:16 Other mss read you
  5. 6:16 Lv 26:12; Jr 31:33; 32:38; Ezk 37:26
  6. 6:17 Is 52:11
  7. 6:18 2Sm 7:14; Is 43:6; 49:22; 60:4; Hs 1:10
Close ISV

2 Corinthians 6
International Standard Version

Workers with God

6 Since, then, we are working with God,[a] we plead with you not to accept God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“At the right time I heard you,
and on a day of salvation I helped you.”[b]

Listen, now is really the “right time”! Now is the “day of salvation”!

We are God’s Servants

3 We do not put an obstacle in anyone’s way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry. 4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God’s servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities; 5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; 6 with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands; 8 through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived[c] as deceivers and yet true, 9 as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet—as you see—very much alive, as punished and yet not killed, 10 as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken frankly[d] to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open. 12 We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us. 13 Do us a favor—I ask you as my children—and open wide your hearts.

Relating with Unbelievers

14 Stop becoming[e] unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony exists between the Messiah[f] and Beliar,[g] or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? 16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we[h] are the temple of the living God, just as God said:

“I will live and walk among them.
    I will be their God,
        and they will be my people.”[i]

17 Therefore,

“Get away from them
    and separate yourselves from them,”
        declares the Lord,[j]
“and don’t touch anything unclean.
    Then I will welcome you.
18 I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,”
        declares the Lord[k] Almighty.[l]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:1 Lit. working together
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isa 49:8
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:8 The Gk. lacks perceived
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit. Our mouth is open
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Or Don’t become
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Or Christ
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:15 I.e. the devil
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Other mss. read you (pl.)
  9. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27
  10. 2 Corinthians 6:17 MT source citation reads Lord
  11. 2 Corinthians 6:18 MT source citation reads Lord
  12. 2 Corinthians 6:18 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34, 41; 2 Sam 7:8, 14
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2 Corinthians 5
2 Corinthians 7
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