2 Corinthians
Chapter 6
Overview
Paul and his coworkers urge the Christians in Corinth not to waste the kindness God has shown them. They describe the hardships they have endured while serving God, along with the character and love that have kept them going. Then Paul speaks with striking openness: his heart is wide, but the Corinthians are holding back. He asks them to return his affection and warns them against binding themselves to people and practices opposed to God. The chapter moves from urgent appeal, through suffering and paradox, toward a call to live as God’s own people.
1As we work together with God, we urge you not to accept God’s grace and then let it have no effect.
2For God says, “At the right time I listened to you, and on the day of rescue I helped you.” Look, now is the welcome time. Now is the day of rescue.
3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one will find fault with our service.
4Instead, in everything we show that we are God’s servants: by great endurance through troubles, hardships, and desperate situations;
5through beatings, imprisonments, riots, exhausting work, sleepless nights, and going without food;
6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, God’s Holy Spirit, and sincere love;
7by speaking the truth and by God’s power; and by carrying in both hands the weapons used to do what is right.
8We serve through honor and disgrace, through slander and praise. We are treated as deceivers, yet we are truthful;
9as unknown, yet well known; as dying, yet look—we are alive; as punished, yet not killed;
10as grieving, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many people rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and we have opened our hearts wide.
12We are not withholding our affection from you. Your own feelings are keeping you closed off.
13So give us the same affection in return. I am speaking to you as my children: open your hearts wide to us too.
14Do not bind yourselves together with people who do not share your faith, like two mismatched animals under one yoke. What partnership can there be between doing what is right and breaking God’s law? What fellowship can light have with darkness?
15What harmony can the Messiah have with Beliar, a name for Satan? What does a believer share with someone who does not believe?
16What agreement can God’s temple have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. God said, “I will live among them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17“Therefore, come out from among them and separate yourselves,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is impure, and I will welcome you.
18I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord who rules over all.