2 Corinthians 6

1 We 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.)3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,8 By honour and dishonour, 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 chastened, and not killed;10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And 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.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Since we are God’s coworkers, we urge you not to let God’s kindnesst be wasted on you.

2 God says,
“At the right time I heard you.On the day of salvation I helped you.”Listen, now is God’s acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!

Our Lives Demonstrate That We Are God’s Servants

3 We don’t give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve.4 Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God’s servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and lack of food.6 People can see our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives, our sincere love,7 truthfulness, and the presence of God’s power. We demonstrate that we are God’s servants8 as we are praised and dishonored, as we are slandered and honored, and as we use what is right to attack what is wrong and to defend the truth.t We are treated as dishonest although we are honest,9 as unknown although we are well-known, as dying although, as you see, we go on living. We are punished, but we are not killed.

10 People think we are sad although we’re always glad, that we’re beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.
11 We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians. We have a place for you in our hearts.12 We haven’t cut you off. Your own emotions have cut you off from us.

13 I’m talking to you as I would talk to children. Treat us the same way we’ve treated you. Make a place for us in your hearts too.

Christians and Their Relationships With Unbelievers

14 Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?15 Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever?

16 Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said,
“I will live and walk among them.I will be their God,and they will be my people.”17 The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers.Separate yourselves from them.Have nothing to do with anything unclean.tThen I will welcome you.”18 The Lord Almighty says, “I will be your Father,and you will be my sons and daughters.”