2 Corinthians 6 - J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

The hard but glorious life of God’s ministers

6 1-2 As co-operators with God himself we beg, you then, not to fail to use the grace of God. For God’s word is—‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you’. Now is the “acceptable time”, and this very day is the “day of salvation”.

3-10 As far as we are concerned we do not wish to stand in anyone’s way, nor do we wish to bring discredit on the ministry God has given us. Indeed we want to prove ourselves genuine ministers of God whatever we have to go through—patient endurance of troubles or even disasters, being flogged or imprisoned; being mobbed, having to work like slaves, having to go without food or sleep. All this we want to meet with sincerity, with insight and patience; by sheer kindness and the Holy Spirit; with genuine love, speaking the plain truth, and living by the power of God. Our sole defence, our only weapon, is a life of integrity, whether we meet honour or dishonour, praise or blame. Called “impostors” we must be true, called “nobodies” we must be in the public eye. Never far from death, yet here we are alive, always “going through it” yet never “going under”. We know sorrow, yet our joy is inextinguishable. We have “nothing to bless ourselves with” yet we bless many others with true riches. We are penniless, and yet in reality we have everything worth having.

We have used utter frankness, won’t you do the same?

11-13 Oh, our dear friends in Corinth, we are hiding nothing from you and our hearts are absolutely open to you. Any stiffness between us must be on your side, for we assure you there is none on ours. Do reward me (I talk to you as though you were my own children) with the same complete candour!

We must warn you against entanglement with pagans

14-16 Don’t link up with unbelievers and try to work with them. What common interest can there be between goodness and evil? How can light and darkness share life together? How can there be harmony between Christ and the devil? What business can a believer have with an unbeliever? What common ground can idols hold with the temple of God? For we, remember, are ourselves living temples of the living God, as God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people’.

17-18 Wherefore: ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you’. ‘I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty’.

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2 Corinthians 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God -- 2 for He saith, `In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' -- 3 in nothing giving any cause of offen...
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2 Corinthians 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 But we helping [you in work and word] admonish [you], that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 For he saith, In time well pleasing I have heard thee [In time accepted, or well pleasing, I have heard thee], and in the day of health I have helped thee. Lo! now a time acceptable, lo! now a da...
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2 Corinthians 6 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

6 We work with God. So we beg you, do not take God's blessing and get nothing from it. 2 Because God has said. `I heard you call at the right time. And I helped you in the day when I saved you.' See, now is the right time. Now is the day to be saved. 3 We put nothing in anyone's way. So no one can s...
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2 Corinthians 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, 2 for he says,“At an acceptable time I listened to you.In a day of salvation I helped you.”Isaiah 49:8Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no occasion of stumbling in...
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2 Corinthians 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

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2 Corinthians 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

6 Since we are co-laboring, we also urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says,“At a favorable time I listened to you,in a day of salvation I helped you.”[a]Behold, now is the favorable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no cause for offense in anything, so that o...
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2 Corinthians 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

6 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,“At the acceptable time I have listened to you,and helped you on the day of salvation.”Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in any one’s ...
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2 Corinthians 6 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

6 So we, therefore, as workers together, encourage you, that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says, “I have heard you at an acceptable time, and on the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold now the accepted time. Behold now the day of salvation. 3 We cause no one to stumbl...
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2 Corinthians 6 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

6 So, as we work together with God, we appeal to you in particular: when you accept God’s grace, don’t let it go to waste! 2 This is what he says:I listened to you when the time was right,I came to your aid on the day of salvation.Look! The right time is now! Look! The day of salvation is here! God...
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2 Corinthians 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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2 Corinthians 6 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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2 Corinthians 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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