6:1 As God’s fellow-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
6:2 For he says, In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. [Isaiah 49:8] I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.
6:3 We put no stumbling-block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance in troubles, hardships and distresses
6:5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger
6:6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love
6:7 in truthful speech and in the power of God with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left
6:8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report genuine, yet regarded as impostors
6:9 known, yet regarded as unknown dying, and yet we live on beaten, and yet not killed
6:10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing poor, yet making many rich having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
6:12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
6:13 As a fair exchange I speak as to my children open wide your hearts also.
6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
6:15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? [Greek: Beliar, a variant of Belial] What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
6:16 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. [Lev. 26:12 Jer. 32:38 Ezek. 37:27]
6:17 Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. [Isaiah 52:11 Ezek. 20:34,41]
6:18 I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. [2 Samuel 7:14 7:8]