That he has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations,

6:1 Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

6:2 for he says,

“At an acceptable time I listened to you,
in a day of salvation I helped you.” *

Behold, now is the acceptable time.
Behold, now is the day of salvation.

* Isaiah 49:8

and by integrity of life,

6:3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

and by patient enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel.

6:4 but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God,

    in great endurance,

    in afflictions,

    in hardships,

    in distresses,

6:5 in beatings,

    in imprisonments,

    in riots,

    in labors,

    in watchings,

    in fastings;

6:6 in pureness,

    in knowledge,

    in patience,

    in kindness,

    in the Holy Spirit,

    in sincere love,

6:7 in the word of truth,

    in the power of God;

    by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

6:8 by glory and dishonor,

    by evil report and good report;

    as deceivers, and yet true;

6:9 as unknown, and yet well known;

    as dying, and behold, we live;

    as punished, and not killed;

Of which he speaks the more boldly amongst them because his heart is open to them,

6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;

    as poor, yet making many rich;

    as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

6:11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

6:12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

and he expects the like affection from them again;

6:13 Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters, as being themselves temples of the living God.

6:14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

6:15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

6:16 What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said,

“I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” *

* Leviticus 26:12 | Jeremiah 32:38 | Ezekiel 37:27

6:17 Therefore,

“‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’

says the Lord.

‘Touch no unclean thing.

I will receive you. *

* Isaiah 52:11 | Ezekiel 20:34, 41

6:18 I will be to you a Father.

You will be to me sons and daughters,’

says the Lord Almighty.”*

* 2 Samuel 7:14   |   Jeremiah 3:19   |   Galatians 4:6   |   Hebrews 12:7