As we
work together with him,a
we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
2 For he says,
“At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See,
now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
3 We are putting no
obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4 but as
servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great
endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 beatings,
imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 by purity,
knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
7 truthful
speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the
right hand and for the left; 8
in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good
repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown, and yet
are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not
killed; 10
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making
many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have
spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.
12 There is no
restriction in our affections, but only in yours.
13 In return—I speak
as to children—open wide your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 Do not be
mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between
righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light
and darkness? 15
What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what
does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement has the temple of God
with idols? For web
are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will live in them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore come out from them,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch nothing unclean;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be your father,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
a Gk
As we work together
b
Other ancient authorities read you