Their Ministry Commended

1And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2for He says,

“AT A FAVORABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,

AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”

Behold, now is “A FAVORABLE TIME,” behold, now is “A DAY OF SALVATION”— 3giving no reason for taking offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 4but in everything commending ourselves as [a]servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in difficulties, 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in [b]mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, 7in the word of truth, and in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; 9as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold, we are alive; as [c]punished and yet not put to death, 10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

11Our mouth [d]has spoken freely to you, you Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. 12You are not restrained [e]by us, but you are restrained in your own [f]affections. 13Now in the same way in exchange—I am speaking as to children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

14Do not be [g]mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15Or what harmony does Christ have with [h]Belial, or [i]what does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16Or what agreement does [j]the temple of God have with idols? For we are [k]the temple of the living God; just as God said,

“I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;

AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

17“Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.

“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;

And I will welcome you.

18“And I will be a father to you,

And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty.