Afflictions Of God's Servants
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
1 Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.
1 Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2 for He says,“(D)At 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”—
2 For He says:I heard you in an acceptable time,and I helped you in the day of salvation.(A)(b)Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.(B)
2 For he says, "At the right time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is really the "right time"! Now is the "day of salvation"!
The Character Of Paul's Ministry
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.
3 We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry.
3 we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
4 but in everything (F)commending ourselves as (a)(G)servants of God, (H)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
4 But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:by great endurance, by afflictions,by hardship, by difficulties,
4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;
4 but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
6 in purity, in (L)knowledge, in (M)patience, in kindness, in the (N)Holy Spirit, in (O)genuine love,
6 by purity,(D) by knowledge,(E)by patience,(F) by kindness,(G)by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(H)
6 with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
6 in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
7 in (P)the word of truth, in (Q)the power of God; by (R)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
7 by the message of truth,(I)by the power of God;(J)through weapons of righteousnesson the right hand and the left,
7 truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands;
7 in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend],
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
8 by glory and (S)dishonor, by (T)evil report and good report; regarded as (U)deceivers and yet (V)true;
8 through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived as deceivers and yet true,
8 amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
9 as unknown (b)yet well-known, as (W)dying (c)yet behold, (X)we live; as (d)punished (e)yet not put to death,
9 as unknown yet recognized;as dying and look—we live;as being disciplined yet not killed;
9 as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet as you see very much alive, as punished and yet not killed,
9 as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
10 as (Y)sorrowful yet always (Z)rejoicing, as (AA)poor yet making many rich, as (AB)having nothing (f)yet possessing (AC)all things.
10 as grieving yet always rejoicing;(L)as poor yet enriching many;as having nothing yet possessing everything.
10 as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.
12 We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us.
12 There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection [for us].
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
13 I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.
13 Do us a favor I ask you as my children and open wide your hearts.
13 Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am speaking as [I would] to children—open wide [your hearts] to us also.
Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked With Unbelievers
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
14 (AI)Do not be (j)bound together with (AJ)unbelievers; for what (AK)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(M) Or what fellowship does light(N) have with darkness?(O)
14 Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?
14 Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
15 Or what (AL)harmony has Christ with (k)Belial, or (l)what has a (AM)believer in common with an (AN)unbeliever?
15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?(d) Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
15 What harmony exists between the Messiah and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
16 Or (AO)what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are (AP)the temple of (AQ)the living God; just as God said,“(AR)I will (AS)dwell in them and (AT)walk among them;And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
16 And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols?(P) For we(e) are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:I will dwell among them(Q)and walk among them,and I will be their God,(R)and they will be My people.(S)(f)
16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
17 “(AU)Therefore, (AV)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.“And do not touch what is unclean;And I will welcome you.
17 Therefore, come out from among themand be separate, says the Lord;do not touch any unclean thing,and I will welcome you.(T)(g)
17 Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
18 “(AW)And I will be a father to you,And you shall be (AX)sons and daughters to Me,”Says the Lord Almighty.
18 I will be a Father(U) to you,and you will be sons(V) and daughters to Me,says the Lord Almighty.(W)(h)
18 I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," declares the Lord Almighty.
18 And I will be a Father to you,And you will be My sons and daughters,”Says the Lord Almighty.(E) Cross references: 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Is 49:8 2 Corinthians 6:11 : Is 60:5; Ezek 33:22 2 Corinthians 6:16 : Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27 2 Corinthians 6:17 : Is 52:11 2 Corinthians 6:18 : Is 43:6; Hos 1:10 end of crossrefs