Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 2 Corinthians 6
Close HCSB

2 Corinthians 6
Holman Christian Standard Bible

6 Working together[a] with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 For He says:

I heard you in an acceptable time,
and I helped you in the day of salvation.(A)[b]

Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.(B)

The Character of Paul’s Ministry

3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed. 4 But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:

by great endurance, by afflictions,
by hardship, by difficulties,
5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(C)
by riots, by labors,
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 message of truth,(I)
by the power of God;(J)
through weapons of righteousness
on the right hand and the left,
8 through glory(K) and dishonor,
through slander and good report;
as deceivers yet true;
9 as unknown yet recognized;
as dying and look—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[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. 12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections. 13 I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.

Separation to God

14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. 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?[d] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols?(P) For we[e] are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell among them(Q)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,(R)
and they will be My people.(S)[f]
17 Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.(T)[g]
18 I will be a Father(U) to you,
and you will be sons(V) and daughters to Me,
says the Lord Almighty.(W)[h]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:1 Or As we work together
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Is 49:8
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit Our mouths have been open
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Or Beliar, a name for the Devil or antichrist in extra-biblical Jewish writings
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Other mss read you
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lv 26:12; Jr 31:33; 32:38; Ezk 37:26
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Is 52:11
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2Sm 7:14; Is 43:6; 49:22; 60:4; Hs 1:10
Listen to 2 Corinthians 6
Close NIV

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
Next
2 Corinthians 5
2 Corinthians 7
Next
dropdown
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV