2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7
Contemporary English Version
The Temple of the Living God
14 Stay away from people who are not followers of the Lord! Can someone who is good get along with someone who is evil? Are light and darkness the same? 15 Is Christ a friend of Satan?[a] Can people who follow the Lord have anything in common with those who don't? 16 (A) Do idols belong in the temple of God? We are the temple of the living God, as God himself says,
“I will live with these people
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be
my people.”
17 (B) The Lord also says,
“Leave them and stay away!
Don't touch anything
that isn't clean.
Then I will welcome you
18 (C) and be your Father.
You will be my sons
and my daughters,
as surely as I am God,
the All-Powerful.”
7 My friends, God has made us these promises. So we should stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him.
The Church Makes Paul Happy
2 Make a place for us in your hearts! We haven't mistreated or hurt anyone. We haven't cheated anyone. 3 I am not saying this to be hard on you. But, as I have said before, you will always be in our thoughts, whether we live or die. 4 I trust you completely.[b] I am always proud of you, and I am greatly encouraged. In all my trouble I am still very happy.
5 (D) After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears. 6 But God cheers up people in need, and this is what he did when he sent Titus to us. 7 Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier.
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7
New International Version
Warning Against Idolatry
14 Do not be yoked together(A) with unbelievers.(B) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(C) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(D) Or what does a believer(E) have in common with an unbeliever?(F) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(G) For we are the temple(H) of the living God.(I) As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[b](J)
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them(K)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[c](L)
18 And,
7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(O) dear friends,(P) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(Q) out of reverence for God.
Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance
2 Make room for us in your hearts.(R) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(S) that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(T) I am greatly encouraged;(U) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(V)
5 For when we came into Macedonia,(W) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(X)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(Y) 6 But God, who comforts the downcast,(Z) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(AA) 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
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