• 1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
  • 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.

  • Paul’s Hardships

  • 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
  • 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
  • 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
  • 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
  • 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
  • 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
  • 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
  • 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
  • 11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
  • 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
  • 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

  • Warning Against Idolatry

  • 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?
  • 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
  • 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.”
  • 17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
  • 18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”