Chapter 6

Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

¹As God’s fellow workers,^a then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. ²For He says:

“In the time of favor I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^b

Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

³We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; ⁶in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; ⁹as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. ¹²It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained. ¹³As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?^c Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell with them

and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they will be My people.”^d

¹⁷“Therefore come out from among them

and be separate, says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

and I will receive you.”^e

¹⁸And:

“I will be a Father to you,

and you will be My sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.”^f