2 Corinthians 6

The Ministry of Reconciliation

1 t Working together with him, then, u we appeal to you v not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 For he says,
w "In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, x now is the y favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We z put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but a as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: b by great endurance, c in afflictions, d hardships, calamities, 5 e beatings, imprisonments, f riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 g by purity, h knowledge, patience, kindness, i the Holy Spirit, j genuine love; 7 by k truthful speech, and l the power of God; with m the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, n through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and o yet well known; p as dying, and behold, we live; q as punished, and yet not killed; 10 r as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; s as poor, yet making many rich; t as having nothing, u yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, 1 Corinthians; v our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but w you are restricted in your own affections. 13 x In return (I speak y as to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

14 z Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For a what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or b what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 c What accord has Christ with Belial? 2 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For d we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
e "I will make my dwelling among them and f walk among them,
and g I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore h go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 i and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty."

  1. Cross References
    Mark 16:20
    And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
    1 Corinthians 3:9
    For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
    Acts 15:4
    When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
  2. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:20
    Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
  3. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:15
    See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:8
    Thus says the Lord : "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 32:6
    Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
    Psalms 69:13
    But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
    Isaiah 55:6
    Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
    Hebrews 3:13
    But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
  6. Cross References
    Luke 4:19
    To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:8
    Thus says the Lord : "In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.
  8. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 8:13
    Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
    1 Corinthians 9:12
    If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
  9. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 3:2
    And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.
    2 Timothy 2:24 - 25
    And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
    2 Corinthians 3:6
    Who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
  10. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:12
    The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
    2 Timothy 3:10
    You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness.
  11. Cross References
    Acts 9:16
    For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.
  12. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 12:10
    For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
  13. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:23 - 27
    Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one - I am talking like a madman - with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
    Acts 16:23
    And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
  14. Cross References
    Acts 17:5
    But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
  15. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:10
    You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
  16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:6
    Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
  17. Cross References
    Romans 15:19
    By the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God - so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ.
    1 Thessalonians 1:5
    Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
  18. Cross References
    Romans 12:9
    Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
    James 3:17
    But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
  19. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
    Colossians 1:5
    Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.
  20. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:5
    That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
  21. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 10:4
    For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
    Ephesians 6:11 - 17
    Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
  22. Cross References
    Romans 3:8
    And why not do evil that good may come? - as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
  23. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 11:6
    Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
  24. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 4:10
    Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
  25. Cross References
    Psalms 118:18
    The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
  26. Cross References
    John 16:22
    So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
    2 Corinthians 7:4
    I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
  27. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 8:9
    For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
    Proverbs 13:7
    One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
    1 Corinthians 1:5
    That in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge -
  28. Cross References
    Acts 3:6
    But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
  29. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 7:30
    And those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods.
  30. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:3
    I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.
    2 Corinthians 11:11
    And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!
    2 Corinthians 12:15
    I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?
    Psalms 119:32
    I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
  31. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 7:2
    Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
  32. Cross References
    Galatians 4:12
    Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong.
  33. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 4:14
    I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
  34. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 7:3
    You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons.
    Joshua 23:12
    For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you.
    Ezra 9:2
    For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.
    Nehemiah 13:25
    And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.
    1 Corinthians 7:39
    A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
  35. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:7
    Therefore do not become partners with them.
    Ephesians 5:11
    Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
    1 John 1:6
    If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
  36. Cross References
    Acts 26:18
    To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
  37. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:21
    You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
  38. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:22
    In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
    1 Corinthians 3:16
    Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
  39. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:12
    And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
    Exodus 29:45
    I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.
  40. Cross References
    Revelation 2:1
    To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
    Revelation 21:3
    And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
  41. Cross References
    Exodus 6:7
    I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
    Jeremiah 31:33
    But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord : I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
    Ezekiel 11:20
    That they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
  42. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:12
    And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
  43. Cross References
    Isaiah 52:11
    Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unc...
    2 Corinthians 7:1
    Since we have these promises, beloved, let us c...
    Ezekiel 20:34
    I will bring you out from the peoples and gathe...
    Ezekiel 20:41
    As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I b...
    Zephaniah 3:20
    At that time I will bring you in, at the time w...
    Revelation 18:4
    Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ...
  44. Cross References
    Isaiah 52:11
    Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.
  45. Cross References
    Exodus 4:22
    Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the L...
    2 Samuel 7:8
    Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servan...
    2 Samuel 7:14
    I will be to him a father, and he shall be to m...
    Isaiah 43:6
    I will say to the north, Give up, and to the so...
    Jeremiah 31:9
    With weeping they shall come, and with pleas fo...
    Hosea 1:10
    Yet the number of the children of Israel shall ...
    Revelation 21:7
    The one who conquers will have this heritage, a...
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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