2 Corinthians 6
New English Translation
God’s Suffering Servants
6 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.[a] 2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[b] Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! 3 We do not give anyone[c] an occasion for taking an offense in anything,[d] so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 4 But as God’s servants,[e] we have commended ourselves in every way,[f] with great endurance, in persecutions,[g] in difficulties, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots,[h] in troubles,[i] in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit,[j] by genuine[k] love, 7 by truthful[l] teaching,[m] by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,[n] 8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors,[o] and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet—see!—we continue to live; as those who are scourged[p] and yet not executed; 10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you,[q] Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. 12 Our affection for you is not restricted,[r] but you are restricted in your affections for us. 13 Now as a fair exchange—I speak as to my[s] children—open wide your hearts to us[t] also.
Unequal Partners
14 Do not become partners[u] with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar?[v] Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are[w] the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them[x] and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”[y] 17 Therefore “come out from their midst, and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch no unclean thing,[z] and I will welcome[aa] you,[ab] 18 and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,”[ac] says the All-Powerful Lord.[ad]
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 tn Or “receive the grace of God uselessly.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 sn A quotation from Isa 49:8.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 tn The word “anyone” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 tn Other interpretations of the first part of 2 Cor 6:3 are possible. The phrase could also mean, “not putting an obstacle in the way of anyone” (L&N 22.14), or “giving no one in anything a cause to sin” (L&N 88.307).
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “ministers.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “we have commended ourselves by all things.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 tn Or “in trouble and suffering.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:5 tn Or “rebellions” (uprisings in open defiance of civil authority).
- 2 Corinthians 6:5 tn Usually κόποις (kopois) has been translated as “labors” or “hard work,” but see Matt 26:10 where it means “trouble”; “distress” (L&N 22.7). In this context with so many other terms denoting suffering and difficulty, such a meaning is preferable.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 tn Or “by holiness of spirit.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 tn Or “sincere.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn Grk “by the word of truth”; understanding ἀληθείας (alētheias) as an attributive genitive (“truthful word”).
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn Or “speech.” In this context it is more likely that λόγος (logos) refers to Paul’s message (thus “teaching”) than to his speech in general.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 tn The phrase “for the right hand and for the left” possibly refers to a combination of an offensive weapon (a sword for the right hand) and a defensive weapon (a shield for the left).
- 2 Corinthians 6:8 tn Or “regarded as deceivers.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:9 tn Grk “disciplined,” but in this context probably a reference to scourging prior to execution (yet the execution is not carried out).
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 tn Grk “our mouth has been open to you,” an idiom for openness in communication.
- 2 Corinthians 6:12 tn Grk “You are not restricted by us.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:13 tn The word “my” is not in the Greek text but is implied.
- 2 Corinthians 6:13 tn The words “to us” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 tn Or “Do not be mismatched.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 sn The Greek term Βελιάρ (Beliar) is a spelling variant for Βελιάλ (Belial, see Judg 20:13 LXX). It occurs only here in the NT. Beliar is a reference to Satan.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 tc Most witnesses, including some significant ones (P46 א2 C D2 F G Ψ 0209 M lat sy Tert), read ὑμεῖς…ἐστε (humeis…este, “you are”) instead of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν (hēmeis…esmen, “we are”) here, but several other early and significant mss (א* B D* L P 0243 6 33 81 326 365 1175 1739 1881 2464 co Cl Or) have ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν. The external evidence is somewhat in favor of the first person pronoun and verb; the internal evidence weighs in even stronger. In light of the parallel in 1 Cor 3:16, where Paul uses ἐστε (“you are the temple of God”), as well as the surrounding context here in which the second person verb or pronoun is used in vv. 14, 17, and 18, the second person reading seems obviously motivated. The first person reading can explain the rise of the other reading, but the reverse is not as easily done. Consequently, the first person reading of ἡμεῖς…ἐσμεν has all the credentials of authenticity.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 tn Or “live among them,” “live with them.” sn I will live in them. The OT text that lies behind this passage (Lev 26:11-12) speaks of God dwelling in the midst of his people. The Greek preposition en in the phrase en autois (“in them”) can also have that meaning (“among” or “with”). However, Paul appears to be extending the imagery here to involve God (as the Spirit) dwelling in his people, since he calls believers “the temple of the living God” in the previous clause, imagery he uses elsewhere in his writings (1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:21-22).
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 sn A quotation from Lev 26:12; also similar to Jer 32:38; Ezek 37:27.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 sn A quotation from Isa 52:11.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 tn Or “will receive.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 sn A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 sn A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 tn Traditionally, “the Lord Almighty.” BDAG 755 s.v. παντοκράτωρ states, “the Almighty, All-Powerful, Omnipotent (One) only of God…κύριος π. (oft. LXX) 2 Cor 6:18.”
2 Corinthians 6
King James Version
6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6
The Voice
These simple verses capture the heart of the good news. Lowering Himself, the sinless Jesus took our sin upon Himself and canceled its power through His death and resurrection. As believers are united with Him, they are raised up with Him and embody God’s righteousness, experiencing forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life. This righteousness is a new creation gift that can never be separated from the Giver, and so believers only experience it because they are “in Him.”
6 As for those of us working as His emissaries,[a] we beg you not to take the grace of God lightly. 2 For God says through Isaiah,
When the time was right, I listened to you;
and that day you were delivered, I was your help.[b]
Look, now the time is right! See, your day of deliverance is here! 3 We are careful in what we teach so that our words won’t be a stumbling block and so that no one will discredit our ministry. 4 But as God’s servants, we commend ourselves in every situation. So that with great endurance we persevere even in anguish and hardship. We have been cornered by the enemy 5 suffering beatings, imprisonments, uproars, toil, sleeplessness, and starvation. 6 And by the Holy Spirit with purity, understanding, patience, kindness, and sincerest love we have proved ourselves. 7 Now with the voice of truth and power of God—armed on the right and armed on the left with righteousness from God—we continue. 8 Whether respected or loathed, praised or criticized as frauds, yet true, 9 as unknown to this world, and yet well known to God, we serve Him. We are treated as dying and yet we live, as punished and yet we are not executed. 10 Though we are sorrowful, we continually rejoice. As the poorest of the poor, we bring richness to all, and though we have nothing, we possess all things.
11 Corinthians, we have been completely open to you. We’ve exposed the truth, holding nothing back while our hearts open wide to take you in. 12 We have revealed our affection toward you—though it’s obvious you have a hard time showing your affection toward us. 13 If I could offer some fatherly advice: open yourselves up as children; share your hearts with us as we have done for you.
14 Don’t develop partnerships with those who are not followers of Jesus’ teachings. For what real connection can exist between righteousness and rebellion? How can light participate in darkness? 15 What harmony can exist between the Anointed and Satan?[c] Do the faithful and the faithless have anything in common? 16 Can the temple of God find common ground with idols? Don’t you see that we house the temple of the living God within us? Remember when He said,
“I will make My home with them and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be My people.[d]
17 So then turn away from them,
turn away and leave without looking back,”[e] says the Lord.
“Stay away from anything unclean, anything impure,
and I will welcome you.[f]
18 And I will be for you as a father,
and you will be for Me as sons and daughters,”[g]
Says the Lord Almighty!
Footnotes
- 6:1 Literally, apostles
- 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
- 6:15 Literally, Belial
- 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Ezekiel 37:27
- 6:17 Isaiah 52:11
- 6:17 Ezekiel 20:34, 41
- 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14
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
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
