2Cor 6 | ISV | STEP | Workers with God Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.

2 Corinthians 6

1 Workers with God

Since, then, we are working with God, ^{▼▼Lit. working together} we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.1Cor 3:9; 2Cor 5:20; Heb 12:15 2 For he says,Isa 49:8

“At the right time I heard you,

and on a day of salvation I helped you.” ^{▼▼Isa 49:8}

Listen, now is really the “right time”! Now is the “day of salvation”! 3 We Are God's ServantsWe do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry.Rom 14:13; 1Cor 9:12; 10:32 4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;1Cor 4:1 5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger;2Cor 11:23 6 with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands;1Cor 2:4; 2Cor 4:2; 7:14; 10:4; Eph 6:11, 13; 2Tim 4:7 8 through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks perceived} as deceivers and yet true, 9 as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet—as you see—very much alive, as punished and yet not killed,Ps 118:18; 1Cor 4:9; 2Cor 1:9; 5:11; 11:6 10 as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken frankly ^{▼▼Lit. Our mouth is open} to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open.2Cor 7:3 12 We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us.2Cor 12:15 13 Do us a favor—I ask you as my children—and open wide your hearts.1Cor 4:14

14 Relating with UnbelieversStop becoming ^{▼▼Or Don't become} unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?Deut 7:2-3; 1Sam 5:2-3; 1Kings 18:21; 1Cor 5:9; 7:39; 10:21; Eph 5:7, 11 15 What harmony exists between Christ and Beliar, ^{▼▼I.e. the devil} or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? 16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we ^{▼▼Other mss. read you (pl.)} are the temple of the living God, just as God said:Exod 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:33; 32:38; Ezek 11:20; 36:28; 37:26; Zech 8:8; 13:9; 1Cor 3:16; 6:19; Eph 2:21-22; Heb 3:6

“I will live and walk among them.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.” ^{▼▼Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27}

17 Therefore,Isa 52:11; 2Cor 7:1; Rev 18:4

“Get away from them

and separate yourselves from them,”

declares the Lord,

“and don't touch anything unclean.

Then I will welcome you.

18 I will be your Father,Jer 31:1, 9; Rev 21:7

and you will be my sons and daughters,”

declares the Lord Almighty. ^{▼▼Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34, 41; 2 Sam 7:8, 14}