2 Corinthians 6

¹Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.” ²For he says:

At an acceptable time I listened to you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.^a,^b

See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! ^c

The Character of Paul’s Ministry

³We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed. ⁴Instead, as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, ⁵by beatings, by imprisonments, ^d by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, ⁶by purity, ^e by knowledge, ^f by patience, ^g by kindness, ^h by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ^{i 7}by the word of truth, ^j,^k by the power of God; ^l through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸through glory ^m and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; ⁹as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see #— #we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; ¹⁰as grieving, yet always rejoicing; ⁿ as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. ¹¹We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. ¹²We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us.

Separation to God

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? ^o Or what fellowship does light ^p have with darkness? ^{q 15}What agreement does Christ have with Belial? ^r Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? ^s For we ^t are the temple of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell^u

and walk among them,

and I will be their God,^v

and they will be my people.^w,^x

¹⁷Therefore, come out from among them

and be separate, says the Lord;

do not touch any unclean thing,

and I will welcome you.^y,^z

¹⁸And I will be a Father^aa to you,

and you will be sons^ab and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.^ac,^ad