2 Corinthians 6
Lexham English Bible
Afflictions of God’s Servants
6 Now because we[a] are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
“At the acceptable time I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[b]
Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it, 4 but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties, 5 in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand, 8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful, 9 as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death, 10 as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely and openly[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. 13 Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.
Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked with Unbelievers
14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said,
“I will live in[d] them and will walk about among them,
and I will be their God and they will be my people.”[e]
17 Therefore “come out from their midst
and be separate,” says the Lord,
“and do not touch what is unclean,[f]
and I will welcome you,[g]
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you will be sons and daughters to me,”[h]
says the all-powerful Lord.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are fellow workers”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 A quotation from Isa 49:8
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 Literally “the mouth of us has opened”
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or “with”
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 A quotation from Lev 26:12 (also similar to Jer 32:38, Ezek 37:27)
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 A quotation from Isa 52:11
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6
2 Corinthians 6
King James Version
6 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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