CHAPTER 6

Commendable Ministers of God

1 And aworking together with Him, bwe also plead with 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 bministers of God, cin much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships,

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

6 in purity, in aknowledge, in bpatience, in kindness, in the cHoly Spirit, in dunhypocritical 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 and yet well-known, as adying and yet behold, bwe live; as 1punished and yet not put to death,

10 as asorrowful but always brejoicing, as cpoor but making many rich, as dhaving nothing and yet possessing eall 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 unequally yoked 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 a 1sanctuary of God with idols? For we are ba sanctuary 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 1Lord.

“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 1Lord Almighty.