6:1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
6:2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”* I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. / *Isaiah 49:8
6:3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
6:5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
6:6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
6:7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
6:8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
6:9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
6:12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
6:13 As a fair exchange - I speak as to my children - open wide your hearts also.
6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial*? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / *Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
6:16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”* / *Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
6:17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”* / *Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
6:18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”* / *2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8