2 Corinthians 6

Christian Standard Bible

6 Working 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]^(A)

See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!^(B)

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,^(C) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, ⁶by purity,^(D) by knowledge,^(E) by patience,^(F) by kindness,^(G) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,^(H) ⁷by the word of truth,^[b]^(I) by the power of God;^(J) through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, ⁸through glory^(K) 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;^(L) 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?^(M) Or what fellowship does light^(N) have with darkness?^(O) ¹⁵What agreement does Christ have with Belial?^[c] Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols?^(P) For we^[d] are the temple of the living God, as God said:

I will dwell^(Q)
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,^(R)
and they will be my people.^[e]^(S)
¹⁷Therefore, come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.^[f]^(T)
¹⁸And I will be a Father^(U) to you,
and you will be sons^(V) and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.^[g]^(W)

Footnotes

6:2 Is 49:8
6:7 Or by truthful speech
6:15 Or Beliar
6:16 Other mss read you
6:16 Lv 26:12; Jr 31:33; 32:38; Ezk 37:26
6:17 Is 52:11
6:18 2Sm 7:14; Is 43:6; 49:22; 60:4; Hs 1:10

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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