Paul's Hardships and God's Grace
1We 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.)
3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
(Exodus 29:45-46)
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And 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.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,
2 for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, 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 punished, and not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17 Therefore, “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
1 As God’s fellow workers, a then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says:
“In the time of favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.” b
Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; 5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; 6 in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; 9 as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. 12 It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained. 13 As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? c Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be My people.” d
17 “Therefore come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.” e
18 And:
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” f
Footnotes:
1 a Literally Now working together
2 b Isaiah 49:8 (see also LXX)
15 c Scrivener’s TR and GOC; many Greek sources Beliar
16 d Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
17 e Isaiah 52:11; see also Ezekiel 20:34, including LXX.
18 f See 2 Samuel 7:14.
Paul's Hardships and God's Grace
1And working together also we call upon you that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --
2for He saith, 'In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now is a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' --
3in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed, 4but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 6in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left, 8through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true; 9as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death; 10as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged! 12ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your own bowels, 13and as a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say it,) be ye enlarged -- also ye!
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
(Exodus 29:45-46)
14Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking is there to righteousness and lawlessness? 15and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?
16and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- 'I will dwell in them, and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,
17wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,
18and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
2 Corinthians 6
Paul’s Ministry and Appeals
¹ As God’s fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain! ² For He says, “In the time of my favor, I heard you, and in the day of salvation, I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation!*
Living as God’s Servants
³ We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, 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, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger. ⁶ In purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
⁸ through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything!*
The Heart of Paul’s Appeal
¹¹ We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 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—open wide your hearts also!*
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
¹⁴ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God! 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.”*
¹⁷ Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” ¹⁸ And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”*
Footnotes:
•6:2: This quote highlights the urgency of responding to God’s grace. Paul emphasizes that the opportunity for salvation is now, stressing the importance of acting on it without delay.
•6:10: Paul’s contrasting statements illustrate the paradoxes of Christian life. Despite external hardships, believers can experience inner richness and joy, reflecting a profound spiritual truth.
•6:6: Paul lists qualities that demonstrate genuine Christian character and ministry, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit and sincere love in his work.
•6:14: The metaphor of “being yoked” refers to the agricultural practice of pairing oxen. Paul warns against forming close partnerships with those who do not share the same faith, which can lead to compromise.
•6:16: The “temple of the living God” signifies that believers are sacred spaces where God’s presence dwells. This verse underscores the special relationship between God and His people.
•6:17: This call to “come out” reflects the need for believers to distance themselves from corrupt influences in society, embracing a lifestyle that honors God.
•6:18: The promise of being God’s sons and daughters highlights the intimate relationship believers have with God, emphasizing both privilege and responsibility in their spiritual identity.
