We Are Appealing To You Too!
6 And working-with Him, we also are appealing that you not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says [in Isa 49:8], “I heard you at the acceptable time. And I helped you on the day of salvation”. Behold, now is the very-acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
... In The Process Giving Them No Opportunity For Stumbling...
3 ... in[a] nothing giving any opportunity-for-stumbling, in order that the ministry may not be faulted,
... But Commending Ourselves While Enduring The Bad And Persevering In The Good
4 ... but in everything, as God’s servants, commending ourselves in great endurance— in afflictions, in constraints, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in labors, in watchings[b], in fastings; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in a holy[c] spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word[d] of truth, in the power of God; through[e] the weapons of [f] righteousness for the right hand and[g] the left; 8 through[h] glory and dishonor, through evil-report[i] and good-report; as deceivers and true ones, 9 as being not-known and being fully-known; as dying and behold we live, as being disciplined and not being put-to-death, 10 as being grieved but always rejoicing; as poor but enriching many, as having nothing and holding-on-to all things.
Open Your Hearts To Us, Corinthians
11 Our mouth has opened to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened-wide. 12 You are not restrained[j] in us, but you are restrained in your own deep-feelings. 13 Now as[k] the same return[l]— I speak as to my children— you also open-wide.
Do Not Be Mis-Yoked To Unbelievers; Be Separated Out To God Your Father
14 Do not be ones being mis-yoked to unbelievers[m]. For what partnership is there for righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there for light with darkness? 15 And what is the harmony[n] of Christ with Beliar[o]? Or what share is there for a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement[p] is there for the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said [in Lev 26:12], that “I will dwell in them, and I will walk-among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people”. 17 Therefore, “Come out of their midst and be separated[q]”, says the Lord, “and do not touch an unclean thing[r]. And I will take you in 18 and be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me”, says the Lord Almighty.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 Paul continues on from 5:21.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5 Or, sleepless-nights.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 That is, a holy disposition. Or, the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 Or, in the message characterized by truth (the gospel); or, in truthful speech; or, in the declaration of truth.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 Or, with, by-means-of.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 That is, belonging to, proceeding from, supplied by.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 right... and left. That is, offensive (a sword) and defensive (a shield); or more generally, fully armed for any fight.
- 2 Corinthians 6:8 Or, by-way-of, with, amid.
- 2 Corinthians 6:8 Or, ill-repute and good-repute; slander and praise.
- 2 Corinthians 6:12 Or, cramped. There is no restraint of love or cramping of space for you in our hearts.
- 2 Corinthians 6:13 Or, give.
- 2 Corinthians 6:13 That is, the same return due me (love from one’s children) as due you (love from one’s father). What Paul has in mind requires both a turning from those misleading them (6:14-7:1) and a turning to Paul (7:2).
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 This was one source of their mistaken attitudes and less-than wide-open feelings toward Paul.
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 Or, agreement, shared interest.
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 That is, Satan.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or, mutual decision, voted agreement.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 Or, set apart.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 Or, person.