1We work together with God. So we are asking you not to receive God’s grace and then do nothing with it.2He says, ‘When I had mercy on you, I heard you. On the day I saved you, I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time God has mercy. Now is the day he saves. (Isa 49:8)
Paul’s sufferings
3We don’t put anything in anyone’s way. So no one can find fault with our work for God.4Instead, we make it clear that we serve God in every way. We serve him by standing firm in troubles, hard times and suffering.5We don’t give up when we are beaten or put in prison. When people stir up trouble in the streets, we continue to serve God. We work hard for him. We go without sleep and food.6We remain pure. We understand completely what it means to serve God. We are patient and kind. We serve him in the power of the Holy Spirit. We serve him with true love.7We speak the truth. We serve in the power of God. We hold the weapons of godliness in the right hand and in the left.8We serve God in times of glory and shame. We serve him whether the news about us is bad or good. We are true to our calling. But people treat us as if we were pretenders.9We are known, but people treat us as if we were unknown. We are dying, but we continue to live. We are beaten, but we are not killed.10We are sad, but we are always full of joy. We are poor, but we make many people rich. We have nothing, but we own everything.11Believers at Corinth, we have spoken freely to you. We have opened our hearts wide to you.12We are not holding back our love from you. But you are holding back your love from us.13I speak to you as if you were my children. It is only fair that you open your hearts wide to us also.
Paul warns against worshipping false gods
14Do not be joined to unbelievers. What do right and wrong have in common? Can light and darkness be friends?15How can Christ and Satan agree? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?16How can the temple of the true God and the statues of other gods agree? We are the temple of the living God. God has said, ‘I will live with them. I will walk among them. I will be their God. And they will be my people.’ (Le 26:12; Jer 32:38; Eze 37:27)17So, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch anything that is not pure and “clean”. Then I will receive you.’ (Isa 52:11; Eze 20:34; Eze 20:41)18And, ‘I will be your Father. You will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord who rules over all.’ (2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 7:14)
2 Corinthians 6
English Standard Version
1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. (Mr 16:20; Ac 15:4; 1Co 3:9; 2Co 5:20; Heb 12:15)2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (Ps 32:6; Ps 69:13; Isa 49:8; Isa 55:6; Lu 4:19; Heb 3:13)3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, (1Co 8:13; 1Co 9:12)4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, (Ac 9:16; 2Co 3:6; 2Co 12:10; 2Co 12:12; 1Th 3:2; 2Ti 2:24; 2Ti 3:10)5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; (Ac 16:23; Ac 17:5; 2Co 11:23)6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; (Ro 12:9; Ro 15:19; 2Co 11:6; 1Th 1:5; 1Th 2:10; Jas 3:17)7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; (1Co 2:5; 2Co 10:4; Eph 1:13; Eph 6:11; Col 1:5)8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; (Ro 3:8)9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; (Ps 118:18; 2Co 4:10; 2Co 11:6)10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (Pr 13:7; Joh 16:22; Ac 3:6; 1Co 1:5; 1Co 7:30; 2Co 7:4; 2Co 8:9)11We have spoken freely to you,[1] Corinthians; our heart is wide open. (Ps 119:32; 2Co 7:3; 2Co 11:11; 2Co 12:15)12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. (2Co 7:2)13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (1Co 4:14; Ga 4:12)
The Temple of the Living God
14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (De 7:3; Jos 23:12; Ezr 9:2; Ne 13:25; Ac 26:18; 1Co 7:39; Eph 5:7; Eph 5:11; 1Jo 1:6)15What accord has Christ with Belial?[2] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? (1Co 10:21)16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Ex 6:7; Ex 29:45; Le 26:12; Jer 31:33; Eze 11:20; 1Co 3:16; Eph 2:22; Re 2:1; Re 21:3)17Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, (Isa 52:11; Eze 20:34; Eze 20:41; Zep 3:20; 2Co 7:1; Re 18:4)18and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (Ex 4:22; 2Sa 7:8; 2Sa 7:14; Isa 43:6; Jer 31:9; Ho 1:10; Re 21:7)