The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

We work together, and we beg you not to receive the gift of God’s love in a way that makes no difference for you.

For God said, “At a time when I displayed my loving mercy, I listened to you, And when I completed the work of my salvation, I helped you.” Look, this is the day when God is having mercy on you; this is the day that he is rescuing you.

We certainly do not want to give anyone reason to do wrong, because we want no one to accuse us of preaching the good news in order to encourage evil doing.

We have proved again and again that we are God’s true servants. We endure great suffering, we face with courage people who hurt us, and we live through hard times.

People have beaten us very badly; others have locked us up in prisons; we were the cause for people to riot; we have done hard physical labor; we have passed many long nights without sleep, and we have often gone with very little food.

But in all this, our lives are pure, our knowledge is deep, and we are able to wait until God ends our suffering. We know how kind Messiah is to us; we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we love others.

We live according to God’s true Word, and we have God’s power. By means of Messiah, God has put us right with himself. This is the truth that we continuously believe; it is like armor that a soldier wears, and like weapons for both of his hands.

Sometimes people honor us; at other times, they dishonor us. Sometimes they say many evil things about us; at other times, they praise us. They accuse us of lying, even though we tell the truth.

We live like persons whom nobody knows, but some people know us very well. Some try to kill us for announcing the message about Messiah, even though no one legally ever condemns us to death.

We live with great sorrow but we always rejoice. We live as some of the poorest people, but we have the treasure of the good news that makes many rich. You can see that we own nothing, but the truth is that all things belong to us.

We have spoken to you very openly and honestly, fellow believers at Corinth. We have freely shown you that we love you.

We are not the ones holding back, but you seem to be reluctant to show that you love us.

It would be a fair exchange, I am speaking as to children, for you to love us in return.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

Do not work in unsuitable ways with people who do not trust Messiah. What do people who live by God’s measure and rules have in common with those who break his laws and do what they want? Darkness and light cannot be together.

How can Messiah agree in any way with the demon Beliar? What does a person who trusts in God have in common with another person who does not trust in God?

How right would it be to bring pagan idols into the temple of God? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will have my home among my people. I will live my life among them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”

The scriptures therefore say: “Come out from among the unbelievers and be separate from them,” says the Lord, “Do not handle anything that makes you filthy and unable to worship me; and I will open my arms and welcome you,

and I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.” says the all-powerful Lord.

Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.”(a) Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,

in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,

as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed,

as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?

What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”(b)

Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.(c)

I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”(d)

Footnotes

(a)6:2 ℘ Isaiah 49:8

(b)6:16 ℘ Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

(d)6:18 ℘ 2Samuel 7:14; 7:8