1 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 offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,
4 but in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,
8 through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;
9 as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death;
10 as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11 Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged!
12 ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your `own' bowels,
13 and `as' a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say `it',) be ye enlarged -- also ye!
14 Become not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking `is there' to righteousness and lawlessness?
15 and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?
16 and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among `them', and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,
17 wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,
18 and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Paul's main appeal in 2 Corinthians 6?
What does 'be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers' mean in verse 14?
What does verse 2's 'now is the accepted time... the day of salvation' refer to?
Today's Verse
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.
Verse Of The DayPaul's warning against being 'unequally yoked together with unbelievers' leads into his promise that God will dwell among his people, a picture later expanded in Revelation 21:3. This call to separation sets up the reconciliation Paul describes next in 2 Corinthians 7.
