1 So working togetherwe really urge you not to receive God's grace in vain,
2 for He says:Well, right now is a really favorable time; indeed, the day of salvation is now!
3 (We give no occasion for offense in anything, that the ministry not be faulted;
4 rather we commend ourselves as God's servants in every way with great endurance—in afflictions, in hardships, in distress,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in fastings;
6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7 by truthful speech, by God's power, with the weapons of the righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good repute; as ‘deceivers’ and true,
9 as unknown and well known, as dying and we live on, as chastened and not killed;
10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything!)
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is open wide.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections.
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to my children), you also be wide open.
14 Do not enter a mismatch with unbelievers;for what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15 And what agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion can a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because youare a temple of the living God, just as God said:
17 Therefore,
18 And,