2 Corinthians 6

The Ministry of Reconciliation

1 We then, as a workers together with Him also b plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 For He says:
c "In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you." 1
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 d We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves e as ministers of God: in much 2 patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 f in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by 3 sincere love, 7 g by the word of truth, by h the power of God, by i the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and j yet well known; k as dying, and behold we live; l as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many m rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O Corinthians! 4 We have spoken openly to you, n our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but o you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same p (I speak as to children), you also be open.

The Temple of the Living God

14 q Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For r what 5 fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what 6 communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For s you 7 are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
t "I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people." 8
17 Therefore
u "Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you." 9
18 "I v will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My w sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty." 10

  1. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:9
    For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
  2. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:20
    Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
  3. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:8
    Thus says the LORD: "In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 14:13
    Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
  5. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:1
    Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
  6. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:23
    Are they ministers of Christ? - I speak as a fool - I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
  7. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:14
    For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:4
    And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
  9. Cross References
    Romans 13:12
    The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
    2 Corinthians 10:4
    For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:2
    But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
    2 Corinthians 5:11
    Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:9
    For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
    1 Corinthians 4:11
    To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
  12. Cross References
    Psalms 118:18
    The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.
  13. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 1:5
    That you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.
    2 Corinthians 8:9
    For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
  14. Cross References
    Isaiah 60:5
    Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.
    2 Corinthians 7:3
    I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
  15. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:15
    And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:14
    I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
  17. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:2
    And when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
    Deuteronomy 7:3
    Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.
    Deuteronomy 22:10
    You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.
    1 Corinthians 5:9
    I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 5:2
    When the Philistines took the ark of God, they ...
    1 Samuel 5:3
    And when the people of Ashdod arose early in th...
    1 Kings 18:21
    And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "H...
    Ephesians 5:6
    Let no one deceive you with empty words, for be...
    Ephesians 5:7
    Therefore do not be partakers with them.
    Ephesians 5:11
    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful work...
    1 John 1:6
    If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and...
  19. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 3:16
    Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
    1 Corinthians 3:17
    If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
    1 Corinthians 6:19
    Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
    Ephesians 2:21
    In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
    Hebrews 3:6
    But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.
  20. Cross References
    Exodus 29:45
    I will dwell among the children of Israel and w...
    Leviticus 26:12
    I will walk among you and be your God, and you ...
    Jeremiah 31:33
    But this is the covenant that I will make with ...
    Jeremiah 32:38
    They shall be My people, and I will be their God.
    Ezekiel 37:26
    Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with t...
    Ezekiel 37:27
    My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I...
    Zechariah 8:8
    I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in...
  21. Cross References
    Numbers 33:51 - 56
    Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan.
    Isaiah 52:11
    Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the LORD.
    Revelation 18:4
    And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
  22. Cross References
    2 Samuel 7:14
    I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
    Jeremiah 31:1
    "At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people."
    Jeremiah 31:9
    They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.
    Revelation 21:7
    He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
  23. Cross References
    John 1:12
    But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
    Romans 8:14
    For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
    Galatians 4:5 - 7
    To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
    Philippians 2:15
    That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
    1 John 3:1
    Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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