6 1 He exhorteth them to lead their lives as it becometh Christians, 5 neither to be dismayed in tribulations, 9 nor puffed up with glory: 14 to avoid all uncleanness, 16 considering that they are the temples of the living God.
1 So [a]we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 [b]For he saith, (A)I have heard thee in a time [c]accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold now the accepted time, behold now the day of salvation.
3 [d]We give no occasion of offence in anything, that our ministry should not be reprehended.
4 But in all things we [e]approve ourselves as (B)the ministers of God, [f]in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.
5 In stripes, in prisons, in [g]tumults, in labors,
6 [h]By watchings, by fastings, by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the [i]word of truth, by the [j]power of God, by the [k]armor of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left,
8 By honor, and dishonor, by evil report, and good report, as deceivers, and yet true:
9 As unknown, and yet known: as dying, and behold, we live, as chastened, and yet not killed:
10 As sorrowing, and yet always rejoicing: as poor, and yet making many rich: as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 [l]O Corinthians, our mouth is [m]open unto you, our heart is made large.
12 Ye are not [n]kept strait in us, but ye are kept strait in your own [o]bowels.
13 Now for the same recompense, I speak as to my children, Be you also enlarged.
14 [p]Be not unequally yoked with the infidels: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what [q]part hath the believer with the infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? (C)for ye are the Temple of the [r]living God: as God hath said, (D)I will [s]dwell among them, and walk there: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 (E)Wherefore come out from among them, and separate yourselves, saith the Lord, and touch none unclean thing, and I will receive you.
18 (F)And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 Men do not only need the ministry of the Gospel, before they have received grace, that they may be partakers of it, but also after they have received grace, that they may continue in it.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 In that that grace is offered, it is of the grace of God, who hath appointed times and seasons to all things, that we may take occasion when it is offered.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 Which I of my free mercy and love towards you, . . . appointed, at which time God poured out that his marvelous love upon us.
- 2 Corinthians 6:3 He showeth the Corinthians a pattern of a true minister, in his own example, and Timothy and Silvanus, to the end, that (as he purposed from the beginning) he might procure authority to himself and his like.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 Declare and show indeed.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 He first of all reckoneth up those things which are neither always in the ministers, nor without exception, unless it be according to the affection of the mind, patience only except, which also is one of the virtues which ought to be always in a good minister.
- 2 Corinthians 6:5 In tossing to and fro, finding no place of rest and quietness.
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 Secondly, he reckoneth up such virtues as are necessary, and ought always to be in them, and whereby as by good armor, all lets and hindrances may be overcome.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 Preaching of the Gospel.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 Power to work miracles, and to bring under the wicked.
- 2 Corinthians 6:7 Uprightness.
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 Going about to rebuke them, he saith first, that he dealeth with them sincerely and with an open and plain heart, and therewithall complaineth that they do not the like in loving again their Father.
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 The opening of the mouth and heart, betokeneth a most earnest affection in him that speaketh, as it fareth commonly with them that are in some great joy.
- 2 Corinthians 6:12 You are in mine heart, as in an house, and that no narrow or strait house, for I have opened my whole heart to you, but you are inwardly straitlaced to me-ward.
- 2 Corinthians 6:12 After the manner of the Hebrews, he calleth those tender affections which rest in the heart, bowels.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 Now he rebuked them boldly, for that they became fellows with infidels in outward idolatry, as though it were a thing indifferent. And this is the fourth part of this Epistle, the conclusion whereof is, that such as the Lord has vouchsafed the name of his children, must keep themselves pure, not only in mind, but also in body, that they may wholly be holy unto the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 What can there be between them?
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 He setteth the living God against idols.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 God dwelleth with us, because Christ is become God with us.