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Their Ministry Commended
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 says,
“Aᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀccᴇᴘᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ (the time of grace) I ʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛo ʏoᴜ,
Aɴᴅ I ʜᴇʟᴘᴇᴅ ʏoᴜ oɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ oꜰ sᴀʟvᴀᴛɪoɴ.”
Behold, now is “ᴛʜᴇ ᴀccᴇᴘᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ,” behold, now is “ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ oꜰ sᴀʟvᴀᴛɪoɴ”— [Is 49:8]
3 we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
4 but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger,
6 in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
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 amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful;
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 always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.
11 We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians [we are keeping nothing back], and our heart is opened wide. [Is 60:5; Ezek 33:22]
12 There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection [for us].
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.
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 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said:
“I wɪʟʟ ᴅwᴇʟʟ ᴀᴍoɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀɴᴅ wᴀʟᴋ ᴀᴍoɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ;
Aɴᴅ I wɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ Goᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ sʜᴀʟʟ ʙᴇ Mʏ ᴘᴇoᴘʟᴇ. [Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27]
17 “So coᴍᴇ oᴜᴛ ꜰʀoᴍ ᴀᴍoɴɢ ᴜɴʙᴇʟɪᴇvᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ sᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇ,” says the Lord,
“Aɴᴅ ᴅo ɴoᴛ ᴛoᴜcʜ wʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴜɴcʟᴇᴀɴ;
And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor], [Is 52:11]
18 And I will be a Father to you,
And you will be My sons and daughters,”
Says the Lord Almighty. [Is 43:6; Hos 1:10]