2 Corinthians 6

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;

by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;

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

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.

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

In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,

and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

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2 Corinthians 6

The opening command 'working together with God, do not receive the grace of God in vain'—do not nullify or reject through inappropriate conduct—establishes that receiving grace entails responsible stewardship and perseverance. Paul's self-commendation as 'a servant of God' (diakonos) emphasizes the servant character of apostolic ministry, then catalogs the markers of authenticity: afflictions, hardships, calamities, imprisonments, beatings, labors, sleeplessness, hunger, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and paradoxes of living ('as dying, and behold we live; as poor, yet making many rich'). This hardship catalog demonstrates how apostolic suffering and privation testify to the Spirit's authenticity and power, inverting worldly standards of success. The warning against being 'unequally yoked with unbelievers' (heterozygein)—whether understood as mixed marriages, business partnerships, or religious associations—rests on irreconcilable differences: 'What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what communion has light with darkness?' The Belial contrast (Belial as name for Satan/the adversary) suggests spiritual warfare and the impossibility of neutral territory. The chain of rhetorical questions develops the theological incompatibility: what agreement between the temple of God and idols? The Corinthians are 'the temple of the living God,' incorporating the promise from Leviticus 26:12 ('I will live in them and walk among them'), Ezekiel 37 (divine restoration), Isaiah 52 (post-exilic restoration), and Jeremiah 31 (new covenant). The call to 'come out from among them and be separate' (citing Isa 52:11) summons the community to boundary maintenance and holiness. The promise—'I will welcome you and will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters'—echoes the new covenant and filial adoption, establishing the incentive for separation as inclusion in God's intimate family.

2 Corinthians 6:12

We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us — Paul denies emotional distance (stenochōrei, narrowed affection). The problem is the Corinthians' coldness, not his. He is open; they must reciprocate.

2 Corinthians 6:13

As a fair exchange — I speak as to my children — open your hearts wide to me — Paul appeals as parent (tekna, children) to children. Fair exchange (antimimisthia) means mutual openness. Parental love seeks reciprocal affection.

2 Corinthians 6:1

As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain — synergoi (co-workers) affirms partnership between God and apostle. The warning: receiving grace (charis) without letting it transform behavior is empty reception (ken, vain). Grace that does not produce fruit has been wasted on the recipient.

2 Corinthians 6:2

For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor; now is the day of salvation — Paul cites Isaiah 49:8. The 'now' (nun) is repeated; present is the urgent moment of grace. Delay is presumption. Salvation is accessible in this instant.

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