Their Ministry Commended

1 And aworking together with Him, bwe also urge you not to receive cthe grace of God in vain—

2 for He says,

“aAt the acceptable time I listened to you,

And on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

3 agiving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

4 but in everything acommending ourselves as 1bservants of God, cin much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

5 in abeatings, in imprisonments, in btumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in chunger,

6 in purity, in aknowledge, in bpatience, in kindness, in the cHoly Spirit, in dgenuine love,

7 in athe word of truth, in bthe power of God; by cthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

8 by glory and adishonor, by bevil report and good report; regarded as cdeceivers and yet dtrue;

9 as unknown 1yet well-known, as adying 1yet behold, bwe live; as 2punished 1yet not put to death,

10 as asorrowful yet always arejoicing, as bpoor yet making many rich, as chaving nothing 1yet possessing dall things.

11 aOur mouth 1has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our bheart is opened wide.

12 You are not restrained 1by us, but ayou are restrained in your own 2affections.

13 Now in a like aexchange—I speak as to bchildren—open wide to us also.

14 aDo not be 1bound together with bunbelievers; for what cpartnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15 Or what aharmony has Christ with 1Belial, or 2what has a bbeliever in common with an cunbeliever?

16 Or awhat agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are bthe temple of cthe living God; just as God said,

“dI will edwell in them and fwalk among them;

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17 “aTherefore, bcome out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.

“And do not touch what is unclean;

And I will welcome you.

18 “aAnd I will be a father to you,

And you shall be bsons and daughters to Me,”

Says the Lord Almighty.