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2 Corinthians 6
New Testament for Everyone
2 Corinthians 6
New Testament for Everyone
6 So, as we work together with God, we appeal to you in particular: when you accept God’s grace, don’t let it go to waste! 2 This is what he says:
I listened to you when the time was right,
I came to your aid on the day of salvation.
Look! The right time is now! Look! The day of salvation is here!
God’s servants at work
3 We put no obstacles in anybody’s way, so that nobody will say abusive things about our ministry. 4 Instead, we recommend ourselves as God’s servants: with much patience, with sufferings, difficulties, hardships, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, going without food, 6 with purity, knowledge, great-heartedness, kindness, the holy spirit, genuine love, 7 by speaking the truth, by God’s power, with weapons for God’s faithful work in right and left hand alike, 8 through glory and shame, through slander and praise; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, yet very well known; as dying, and look—we are alive; as punished, yet not killed; 10 as sad, yet always celebrating; as poor, yet bringing riches to many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have been wide open in our speaking to you, my dear Corinthians! Our heart has been opened wide! 12 There are no restrictions at our end; the only restrictions are in your affection! 13 I’m speaking as though to children: you should open your hearts wide as well in return. That’s fair enough, isn’t it?
Don’t be mismatched
14 Don’t be drawn into partnership with unbelievers. What kind of sharing can there be, after all, between justice and lawlessness? What partnership can there be between light and darkness? 15 What kind of harmony can the Messiah have with Beliar? What has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 What kind of agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? We are the temple of the living God, you see, just as God said:
I will live among them and walk about with them;
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 So come out from the midst of them,
and separate yourselves, says the Lord;
no unclean thing must you touch.
Then I will receive you gladly,
18 and I will be to you as a father,
and you will be to me as sons and daughters,
says the Lord, the Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6
New International Version
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,
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,
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
New Testament for Everyone (NTFE) 
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
New International Version (NIV) 
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