Afflictions of God’s Servants

¹ Now because we¹ are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are fellow workers”) which is understood as causal

² For he says, “At the acceptable time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”¹ Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation!

1. A quotation from Isa 49:8

³ We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it,

⁴ but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties,

⁵ in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry,

⁶ in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy,

⁷ in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand,

⁸ through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful,

⁹ as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death,

¹⁰ as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

¹¹ ⌞We have spoken freely and openly⌟¹ to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide.

1. Literally “the mouth of us has opened”

¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections.

¹³ Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked with Unbelievers

¹⁴ Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

¹⁵ And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever?

¹⁶ And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in¹ them and will walk about among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.”²

1. Or “with”
2. A quotation from Lev 26:12 (also similar to Jer 32:38, Ezek 37:27)

¹⁷ Therefore “come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “and do not touch what is unclean,¹ and I will welcome you,²

1. A quotation from Isa 52:11
2. A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41

¹⁸ and I will be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,”¹ says the all-powerful Lord.

1. A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6