Add parallel Print Page Options

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, for he says,

“At an acceptable time I listened to you.
In a day of salvation I helped you.”Isaiah 49:8

Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return, I speak as to my children: you also open your hearts. 14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27 17 Therefore

“‘Come out from among them,
    and be separate,’ says the Lord.
‘Touch no unclean thing.
    I will receive you.Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41
18 I will be to you a Father.
    You will be to me sons and daughters,’

says the Lord Almighty.”2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

As we work together with him,[a] we entreat you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.(A) For he says,

“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
    and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!(B) We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,(C) but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: in great endurance, afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;(D) in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;(E) in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors and yet are true, as unknown and yet are well known, as dying and look—we are alive, as punished and yet not killed,(F) 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours. 13 In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.(G)

The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? Or what partnership is there between light and darkness?(H) 15 What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we[b] are the temple of the living God, as God said,

“I will live in them[c] and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.(I)
17 Therefore come out from them,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch nothing unclean;
    then I will welcome you,(J)
18 and I will be your father,
    and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”(K)

Footnotes

  1. 6.1 Gk As we work together
  2. 6.16 Other ancient authorities read you
  3. 6.16 Or in their midst