The Word Am I

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 6 -

1
But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2
For he says: “In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3
May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged.
4
But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress;
5
despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting;
6
by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity;
7
with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left;
8
through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged;
9
as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued;(a)
10
as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything.
11
Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlarged.
12
You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed.
13
But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

14
Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?
15
And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful?
16
And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: “I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17
Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean.
18
Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

Footnotes

(a)6:9 The word ‘mortificati’ in this context does not refer to death itself, but to the mortification of the flesh by temporal punishment; the meaning is that the Christian is castigated (severely punished with bodily sufferings) by the unbelievers, but is not subdued so as to turn away from Christ.(Conte)
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) Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.
3
We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,
4
but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5
in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,
6
in pureness, 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 on the right hand and on the left,
8
by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,
9
as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—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
Don’t 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. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”(b)
17
Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.(c)
18
I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”(d)

Footnotes

(a)6:2 ℘ Isaiah 49:8
(b)6:16 ℘ Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
(c)6:17 ℘ Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41
(d)6:18 ℘ 2Samuel 7:14; 7:8
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