New Testament
2 Corinthians 6
Overview
As God's fellow worker, Paul appeals to the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain, citing Isaiah 49:8—"Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (6:1-2). He commends his ministry by putting no obstacle in anyone's way, enduring a sweeping catalog of hardships—afflictions, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleeplessness, hunger—through purity, knowledge, patience, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God, with weapons of righteousness for both hands (6:3-7). He frames his life in striking paradoxes: through honor and dishonor, slander and praise, treated as impostors yet true, as dying yet alive, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing everything (6:8-10). His heart is wide open to them, and he begs them to widen their own hearts in return, for he has restricted nothing toward them (6:11-13). The chapter closes with an urgent command: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," supported by a chain of Old Testament quotations and the promise that God will dwell among and be a Father to a separated, holy people (6:14-18).
1Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.
2For 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.
3We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
6in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
7in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,
9as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed,
10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
11Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.
12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
13Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.
14Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?
16What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”
17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
18I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”