Workers with God

6 Since, then, we are working with God,^[a] we plead with you not to accept God’s grace in vain. ² For he says,

Listen, now is really the “right time”! Now is the “day of salvation”!

We are God’s Servants

³ We do not put an obstacle in anyone’s way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry. ⁴ Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God’s servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; ⁶ with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands; ⁸ through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived^[c] as deceivers and yet true, ⁹ as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet—as you see—very much alive, as punished and yet not killed, ¹⁰ as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ We have spoken frankly^[d] to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open. ¹² We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us. ¹³ Do us a favor—I ask you as my children—and open wide your hearts.

Relating with Unbelievers

¹⁴ Stop becoming^[e] unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony exists between the Messiah^[f] and Beliar,^[g] or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? ¹⁶ What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we^[h] are the temple of the living God, just as God said:

¹⁷ Therefore,