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11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. 12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. 13 I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!

Warning against Pagan Influences

14 Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? 15 How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 (A)How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said,

“I will make my home with my people
    and live among them;
I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.”
17 (B)And so the Lord says,
“You must leave them
    and separate yourselves from them.
Have nothing to do with what is unclean,
    and I will accept you.
18 (C)I will be your father,
    and you shall be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.”

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11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(A) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(B)—open wide your hearts(C) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(D) with unbelievers.(E) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(F) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(G) Or what does a believer(H) have in common with an unbeliever?(I) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(J) For we are the temple(K) of the living God.(L) 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](M)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(N)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[c](O)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(P)
says the Lord Almighty.”[d](Q)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

Call to relationship and holiness

11 Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and our hearts are wide open. 12 There are no limits to the affection that we feel for you. You are the ones who placed boundaries on your affection for us. 13 But as a fair trade—I’m talking to you like you are children—open your hearts wide too.

14 Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan?[a] What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe? 16 What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.[b] 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you.[c] 18 I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.[d]

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