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2 Corinthians 6
Evangelical Heritage Version

6 As fellow workers we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says:

At a favorable time I listened to you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.[a]

Look, now is the favorable time! See, now is the day of salvation!

3 We are giving no one a reason to stumble in any way, so that our ministry will not be blamed. 4 Rather, in every way we show ourselves to be God’s ministers: in great endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in times of hunger; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness on the right and on the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report; treated as deceivers yet being honest, 9 treated as unknown and yet being well known; as dying, and yet look—we live; as punished yet not put to death; 10 as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich; as having nothing yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken to you openly,[b] Corinthians. Our heart is standing wide open. 12 We have plenty of room for you, but you do not have room for us in your affections. 13 I am speaking as to my children: In exchange, open your hearts wide too.

Do Not Be Yoked With Unbelievers

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership does righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Belial?[c] Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what mutual agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For you[d] are the temple of the living God, just as God said:

I will live and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.[e]
17 Therefore come out from them, and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you.[f]
18 I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.[g]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Literally Our mouth is opened to you. This is an idiom for open and honest communication.
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek has Beliar. Belial is the more common spelling. It is a reference to Satan.
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Some witnesses to the text read we.
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
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2 Corinthians 6
New International Version

6 As God’s co-workers(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(B) 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
    and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[a](C)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(D) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(E) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(F) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(G) and in sincere love;(H) 7 in truthful speech(I) and in the power of God;(J) with weapons of righteousness(K) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(L) bad report(M) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(N) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(O) and yet we live on;(P) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(Q) poor, yet making many rich;(R) having nothing,(S) and yet possessing everything.(T)

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(U) 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(V)—open wide your hearts(W) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(X) with unbelievers.(Y) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(Z) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]?(AA) Or what does a believer(AB) have in common with an unbeliever?(AC) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(AD) For we are the temple(AE) of the living God.(AF) 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.”[c](AG)

17 Therefore,

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

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(AJ)
says the Lord Almighty.”[e](AK)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
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2 Corinthians 5
2 Corinthians 7
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