2 Corinthians 6
The apostle urges the Corinthians not to waste the gift of God's salvation and to live as ministers of God, enduring hardships and difficulties with patience and integrity. He encourages them to be open and sincere in their relationships, and to separate themselves from unbelievers and unclean things. The apostle reminds them that they are the temple of the living God and should not be joined with idols or darkness. He calls them to depart from the unclean and be separate, promising that God will accept them as sons and daughters if they do so.
But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vainFor he says: "In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvationMay we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparagedBut in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distressdespite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fastingby chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charitywith the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the leftthrough honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledgedas if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subduedas if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everythingOur mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlargedYou are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowedBut since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlargedDo not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darknessAnd how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithfulAnd what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: "I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my peopleBecause of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is uncleanThen I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
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