Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
1 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain, 2 for he says,
“At an acceptable time I listened to you.
In a day of salvation I helped you.” a
Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4 Rather, in everything, we commend ourselves as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fasting; 6 in purity, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love; 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness to the right and to the left; 8 by glory and dishonor, by bad report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and we live; as punished, and not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return, I speak as to my children: you also open your hearts.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore,
‘Come out from among them,
and be separate,’ says the Lord.
‘Touch no unclean thing.
I will receive you. b
18 I will be to you a Father.
You will be to me sons and daughters,’
says the Lord Almighty.” c
a Isaiah 49:8
b Leviticus 26:12
c Isaiah 52:11