2 Corinthians
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2 Corinthians 6

Their Ministry Commended

1And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says,

“At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”— 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as [a]servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9 as unknown [b]yet well-known, as dying [c]yet behold, we live; as [d]punished [e]yet not put to death, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing [f]yet possessing all things.

11 Our mouth [g]has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. 12 You are not restrained [h]by us, but you are restrained in your own [i]affections. 13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

14 Do not be [j]bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with [k]Belial, or [l]what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I will dwell in them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:4 Or ministers
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Lit and
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Lit and
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Or disciplined
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:9 Lit and
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:10 Lit and
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit is open to you
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Or in us
  9. 2 Corinthians 6:12 Lit inward parts
  10. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Lit unequally yoked
  11. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Gr Beliar
  12. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever
2 Corinthians 6