2 Corinthians 6
New Testament for Everyone
6 So, as we work together with God, we appeal to you in particular: when you accept God’s grace, don’t let it go to waste! 2 This is what he says:
I listened to you when the time was right,
I came to your aid on the day of salvation.
Look! The right time is now! Look! The day of salvation is here!
God’s servants at work
3 We put no obstacles in anybody’s way, so that nobody will say abusive things about our ministry. 4 Instead, we recommend ourselves as God’s servants: with much patience, with sufferings, difficulties, hardships, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, going without food, 6 with purity, knowledge, great-heartedness, kindness, the holy spirit, genuine love, 7 by speaking the truth, by God’s power, with weapons for God’s faithful work in right and left hand alike, 8 through glory and shame, through slander and praise; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, yet very well known; as dying, and look—we are alive; as punished, yet not killed; 10 as sad, yet always celebrating; as poor, yet bringing riches to many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have been wide open in our speaking to you, my dear Corinthians! Our heart has been opened wide! 12 There are no restrictions at our end; the only restrictions are in your affection! 13 I’m speaking as though to children: you should open your hearts wide as well in return. That’s fair enough, isn’t it?
Don’t be mismatched
14 Don’t be drawn into partnership with unbelievers. What kind of sharing can there be, after all, between justice and lawlessness? What partnership can there be between light and darkness? 15 What kind of harmony can the Messiah have with Beliar? What has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 What kind of agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? We are the temple of the living God, you see, just as God said:
I will live among them and walk about with them;
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 So come out from the midst of them,
and separate yourselves, says the Lord;
no unclean thing must you touch.
Then I will receive you gladly,
18 and I will be to you as a father,
and you will be to me as sons and daughters,
says the Lord, the Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
6 Working together with him, we also appeal to you, ‘Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.’ 2 For he says:
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 offence, 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 labours, 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 dishonour, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; 9 as unknown, yet recognised; 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)
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.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.