1 So we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine. 2 For he sayth, I haue heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of saluation haue I succoured thee: beholde nowe the accepted time, beholde nowe the day of saluation. 3 We giue no occasion of offence in any thing, that our ministerie shoulde not be reprehended. 4 But in all things we approue our selues as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours, 6 By watchings, by fastings, by puritie, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained, 7 By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left, 8 By honour, and dishonour, by euill report, and good report, as deceiuers, and yet true: 9 As vnknowen, and yet knowen: as dying, and beholde, we liue: as chastened, and yet not killed: 10 As sorowing, and yet alway reioycing: as poore, and yet make many riche: as hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11 O Corinthians, our mouth is open vnto you: our heart is made large. 12 Ye are not kept strait in vs, but ye are kept strait in your owne bowels. 13 Nowe for the same recompence, I speake as to my children, Be you also inlarged. 14 Be not vnequally yoked with the infidels: for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? and what communion hath light with darkenesse? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the beleeuer with the infidell? 16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? for ye are the Temple of the liuing God: as God hath said, I will dwell among them, and walke there: and I will be their God, and they shalbe my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and separate your selues, saith the Lord, and touch none vncleane thing, and I wil receiue you. 18 And I will be a Father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord almightie.
1 In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted. 2 Hear what God says:
“When the time came for me to show you favor,
I heard you;
when the day arrived for me to save you,
I helped you.”
Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!
3 We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. 4 Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. 5 We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. 6 By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, 7 by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. 8 We are honored and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth; 9 as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed; 10 although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide. 12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us. 13 I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!
Warning against Pagan Influences
14 Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? 15 How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said,
“I will make my home with my people
and live among them;
I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.”
17 And so the Lord says,
“You must leave them
and separate yourselves from them.
Have nothing to do with what is unclean,
and I will accept you.
18 I will be your father,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”