1 Commendable Ministers of God And working togetherwith Him, we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain—
2 for He says,“At the acceptable timeIlistened to you,And on the day of salvationIhelped you.”Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—
3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report;regardedas deceivers andyettrue;
9 as unknown andyetwell-known, as dying andyetbehold, we live; as 6:9Or disciplined punished andyetnot put to death,
10 as sorrowful but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing andyetpossessing all things.
11 Our mouth 6:11Lit is open to you has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
12 You are not restrained 6:12 Or in us by us, but you are restrained in your own 6:12 Lit inward parts affections.
13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wideto usalso.
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 Or what harmony has Christ with 6:15 Gr Beliar Belial, or 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 Or what agreement has a 6:16 The innermost part of the temple sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said,“Iwill dwell in them and walk among them;AndIwill be theirGod,and they shall beMy people.
17 “Therefore,come out from their midst and be separate,” says the 6:17 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Is 52:11 Lord.“And do not touch what is unclean,And I will welcome you.
18 “AndIwill be a father to you,And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”says the 6:18 In OT, Yahweh, cf. 1 Chr 17:7;Hos 1:9 LordAlmighty.