2 Corinthians 6
English Standard Version
6 (A)Working together with him, then, (B)we appeal to you (C)not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
(D)“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, (E)now is the (F)favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We (G)put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but (H)as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: (I)by great endurance, (J)in afflictions, (K)hardships, calamities, 5 (L)beatings, imprisonments, (M)riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 (N)by purity, (O)knowledge, patience, kindness, (P)the Holy Spirit, (Q)genuine love; 7 by (R)truthful speech, and (S)the power of God; with (T)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, (U)through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and (V)yet well known; (W)as dying, and behold, we live; (X)as punished, and yet not killed; 10 (Y)as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; (Z)as poor, yet making many rich; (AA)as having nothing, (AB)yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you,[a] Corinthians; (AC)our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but (AD)you are restricted in your own affections. 13 (AE)In return (I speak (AF)as to children) widen your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 (AG)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For (AH)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or (AI)what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 (AJ)What accord has Christ with Belial?[b] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (AK)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
(AL)“I will make my dwelling among them and (AM)walk among them,
and (AN)I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore (AO)go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 (AP)and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar
2 Corinthians 6
Common English Bible
6 1 Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation.[a] Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!
3 We don’t give anyone any reason to be offended about anything so that our ministry won’t be criticized. 4 Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations. 5 We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. 6 We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. We served with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, 7 telling the truth, and God’s power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand. 8 We were treated with honor and dishonor and with verbal abuse and good evaluation. We were seen as both fake and real, 9 as unknown and well known, as dying—and look, we are alive! We were seen as punished but not killed, 10 as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.
Call to relationship and holiness
11 Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and our hearts are wide open. 12 There are no limits to the affection that we feel for you. You are the ones who placed boundaries on your affection for us. 13 But as a fair trade—I’m talking to you like you are children—open your hearts wide too.
14 Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan?[b] What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe? 16 What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.[c] 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you.[d] 18 I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.[e]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible