2 Corinthians 6:1

THE MESSAGE

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't you realize the gift you've been given to be able to cowboy for God? Don't waste your new opportunity by living like you used to.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

Legacy Standard Bible
And working together with Him, we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

Bible in Basic English
We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose.

Darby Translation
But [as] fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

Christian Standard Bible®
Working together with Him, we also appeal to you, "Don't receive God's grace in vain."

World English Bible
Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
We then, as fellow-labourers, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Weymouth's New Testament
And you also we, as God's fellow workers, entreat not to be found to have received His grace to no purpose.

King James Version (1611)
Wee then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine.

Literal Translation
But working together, we also call on you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
We as helpers therfore exhorte you, that ye receaue not ye grace of God in vayne.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Invested then with such a commission, I beseech you let not the offers of divine favour be made to you in vain.

Amplified Bible
Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God's grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness].

American Standard Version
And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

Revised Standard Version
Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
We as helpers therfore exhorte you yt ye receave not the grace of god in (vayne)

Update Bible Version
And working together [with him] we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain

Webster's Bible Translation
We then, [as] co-workers [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Young's Literal Translation
And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --

New Century Version
We are workers together with God, so we beg you: Do not let the grace that you received from God be for nothing.

New English Translation
Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Berean Standard Bible
As God's fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

Contemporary English Version
We work together with God, and we beg you to make good use of God's kindness to you.

Complete Jewish Bible
As God's fellow-workers we also urge you not to receive his grace and then do nothing with it.

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

Geneva Bible (1587)
So we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine.

George Lamsa Translation
SO we beseech you, as helpers, that the grace of God which you have received may not be in vain among you.

Hebrew Names Version
Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

International Standard Version
Since, then, we are working with God,working together">[fn] we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Hebrews 12:15;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
1 And as helpers, we beseech of you that the grace of Aloha which you have received be not made ineffectual [fn] in you.

Murdock Translation
And as aiders we entreat of you, that the grace of God which ye have received, may not be ineffectual in you.

New King James Version
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

New Living Translation
As God's partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it.

New Life Bible
We are working together with God. We ask you from our hearts not to receive God's loving-favor and then waste it.

English Revised Version
And working together [with him] we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

New Revised Standard
As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
As co-workers, however, we also beseech, that, not in vain, the favour of God, ye welcome;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And we helping do exhort you that you receive not the grace of God in vain.

King James Version
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Lexham English Bible
Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
We also as helpers exhorte you, that ye receaue not the grace of God in vayne.

Easy-to-Read Version
We are workers together with God. So we beg you: Don't let the grace that you received from God be for nothing.

New American Standard Bible
And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

Good News Translation
In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But we helpynge monesten, that ye resseyuen not the grace of God in veyn.

Contextual Overview

¹Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. Our work as God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly... in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

workers: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 1 Corinthians 3:9

beseech: 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Matthew 23:37, Romans 12:1, Galatians 4:11, Galatians 4:12

ye: Jeremiah 8:8, Galatians 3:4, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 12:25

the: 2 Corinthians 8:1, 2 Corinthians 8:2, Acts 14:3, Galatians 2:21, Titus 2:11, 1 Peter 4:10

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 5:29 - O that there Deuteronomy 20:10 - then proclaim Judges 5:23 - to the help 1 Samuel 14:45 - he hath Nehemiah 5:10 - I pray you Proverbs 17:16 - a price Song of Solomon 2:13 - Arise Isaiah 55:6 - Seek Isaiah 60:5 - be enlarged Jeremiah 38:20 - Obey Matthew 9:37 - but Matthew 13:27 - the servants Mark 16:20 - the Lord Luke 4:19 - General Luke 7:30 - rejected Luke 10:2 - the labourers Luke 14:17 - Come Luke 14:23 - compel Luke 19:5 - Zacchaeus Luke 19:42 - in this John 4:40 - he abode John 17:22 - the glory Acts 7:25 - God Acts 13:43 - persuaded Acts 15:4 - all Acts 21:19 - he declared Romans 15:18 - which 1 Corinthians 1:10 - I beseech 1 Corinthians 3:5 - ministers 1 Corinthians 9:1 - are 1 Corinthians 15:2 - unless 1 Corinthians 15:10 - his grace 1 Corinthians 16:10 - for 2 Corinthians 1:15 - benefit 2 Corinthians 5:11 - we persuade Ephesians 4:1 - beseech Ephesians 4:7 - grace Colossians 1:6 - knew Colossians 1:23 - whereof Colossians 4:11 - fellowworkers 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - in vain 1 Thessalonians 2:8 - affectionately 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - we 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - labour 1 Timothy 5:17 - labour Philemon 1:9 - love's sake Hebrews 2:9 - by Hebrews 3:7 - To day Hebrews 13:22 - suffer 1 Peter 2:11 - I beseech 3 John 1:8 - fellowhelpers

Gill's Notes on the Bible

We then, as workers together with him,.... The ministers of the Gospel are workers or labourers; their ministry is a work, and a very laborious one, which none have strength equal to, and are sufficient for; of themselves: it is a work that requires faithfulness and diligence, is honourable; and those who perform it aright deserve respect. These do not work alone: according to our version, they are "workers together with him"; meaning either God or Christ, not as co-ordinate with him, but as subordinate to him: he is the chief shepherd, they under ones; he is the chief master builder, they under workers; but inasmuch as he is with them, and they with him, he is over them, and stands by them, great honour is done them; they have encouragement to work; and hence it is that their work is successful. Though the phrase, "with him", is not in the original text, where only one word, συνεργουντες, is used, and may be rendered "fellow workers", or "fellow labourers", meaning with one another: and since therefore reconciliation was made by Christ, and the ministry of it was committed to them, and they were appointed ambassadors for him, and were in his stead, therefore, say they,

we beseech you also; you ministers also; as we have entreated the members of the church, to be reconciled to the order of the Gospel, and the laws of Christ in his house, so as fellow labourers with you, and jointly concerned in the same embassy of peace, we beseech you the ministers of the word in this church,

that ye receive not the grace of God in vain: by "the grace of God", is not meant the grace of God in regeneration, and effectual calling, which can never be received in vain; for the grace of God never fails of producing a thorough work of conversion; nor is it ever lost, but is strictly connected with eternal, glory: but by it is meant either the doctrine of grace, the Gospel of Christ, so called, because it is a declaration of the love and grace of God to sinners, ascribes salvation in part, and in whole, to the free grace of God, and is a means of implanting and increasing grace in the hearts of men. Now this may be received in vain by ministers and people, when it is but notionally received, or received in word only: when it is abused and perverted to vile purposes, and when men drop, deny it, and fall off from it; or else by the grace of God may be designed gifts of grace, qualifying for ministerial service; and the sense of the exhortation be, that they be careful that the gifts bestowed on them might not be neglected by them, but be used and improved to the advantage of the church, and the glory of Christ; by giving up themselves to study, meditation, and prayer, by labouring constantly in the word and doctrine, and by having a strict regard to their lives and conversations, "that the ministry be not blamed"; which exhortation he pursues in, and by his own example and others, in some following verses, the next being included in a "parenthesis".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

We then, as workers together with him - On the meaning of this expression, see the note, 1 Corinthians 3:9. The Greek here is (συνεργοῦντες sunergountes) “working together,” and may mean either that the apostles and ministers to whom Paul refers were joint-laborers in entreating them not to receive the grace of God in vain; or it may mean that they cooperated with God, or were engaged with him in endeavoring to secure the reconciliation of the world to himself. Tyndale renders it: “we as helpers.” Doddridge, “we then as the joint-laborers of God.” Most expositors have concurred in this interpretation. The word properly means, to work together; to cooperate in producing any result. Macknight supposes that the word here is in the vocative, and is an address to the fellow-laborers of Paul, entreating them not to receive the grace of God in vain. In this opinion he is probably alone, and has manifestly departed from the scope and design of the passage. Probably the most obvious meaning is that of our translators, who regard it as teaching that Paul was a joint-worker with God in securing the salvation of people.

That ye receive not the grace of God in vain - The “grace of God” here means evidently the gracious offer of reconciliation and pardon. And the sense is, “We entreat you not to neglect or slight this offer of pardon, so as to lose the benefit of it, and be lost. It is offered freely and fully. It may be partaken of by all, and all may be saved. But it may also be slighted, and all the benefits of it will then be lost.” The sense is, that it was possible that this offer might be made to them, they might hear of a Saviour, be told of the plan of reconciliation and have the offers of mercy pressed on their attention and acceptance, and yet all be in vain. They might notwithstanding all this be lost, for simply to hear of the plan of salvation or the offers of mercy, will no more save a sinner than to hear of medicine will save the sick. It must be embraced and applied, or it will be in vain. It is true that Paul probably addressed this to those who were professors of religion; and the sense is, that they should use all possible care and anxiety lest these offers should have been made in vain. They should examine their own hearts; they should inquire into their own condition; they should guard against self-deception. The same persons 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul had exhorted also to be reconciled to God; and the idea is, that he would earnestly entreat even professors of religion to give all diligence to secure an interest in the saving mercy of the gospel, and to guard against the possibility of being self-deceived and ruined.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER VI.

We should not receive the grace of God in vain, having such

promises of support from him, 1, 2.

We should act so as to bring no disgrace on the Gospel, 3.

How the apostles behaved themselves, preached, suffered, and

rejoiced, 4-10.

St. Paul's affectionate concern for the Corinthians, 11-13.

He counsels them not to be yoked with unbelievers, and advances

several arguments why they should avoid them, 14-16.

Exhorts them to avoid evil companions and evil practices, on

the promise that God will be their Father and that they shall

be his sons and his daughters, 17, 18,

NOTES ON CHAP. VI.

Verse 2 Corinthians 6:1. We then, as workers together with him] συνεργουντες δε και παρακαλουμεν. The two last words, with him, are not in the text, and some supply the place thus: we then, as workers together WITH YOU, and the Armenian version seems to have read it so; but no MS. has this reading, and no other version. For my own part I see nothing wanting in the text if we only suppose the term apostles; we, (i.e. apostles,) being fellow workers, also entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

By the grace of God, την χαριν του θεου, this grace or benefit of God, the apostle certainly means the grand sacrificial offering of Christ for the sin of the world, which he had just before mentioned in speaking of the ministry of reconciliation. We learn, therefore, that it was possible to receive the grace of God and not ultimately benefit by it; or, in other words, to begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh. Should any one say that it is the ministry of reconciliation, that is, the benefit of apostolic preaching, that they might receive in vain; I answer, that the apostolic preaching, and the whole ministry of reconciliation, could be no benefit to any man farther than it might have been a means of conveying to him the salvation of God. And it is most evident that the apostle has in view that grace or benefit that reconciles us to God, and makes us Divinely righteous. And this, and all other benefits of the death of Christ, may be received in vain.