2 Corinthians 6

Commendable Ministers of God

¹And working together with Him , we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

²for 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 ”—

³giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

⁴but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships,

⁵in beatings, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

⁶in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love,

⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

⁸by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;

⁹as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet behold, we live; as punished and yet not put to death,[#6:9 Or disciplined]

¹⁰as sorrowful but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

¹¹Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.[#6:11 Lit is open to you]

¹²You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.[#6:12 Or in us; #6:12 Lit inward parts]

¹³Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

¹⁵Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?[#6:15 Gr Beliar; #6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever]

¹⁶Or what agreement has a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said,[#6:16 The innermost part of the temple]

“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.[#6:17 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 52:11]

“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 .