Read the Bible

Their Ministry Commended

¹ And ^(C1)working together with Him, ^(C2)we also urge you not to receive ^(C3)the grace of God in vain--² for He says,

"^(C1)AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU."
Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--^3 (C1)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,⁴ but in everything ^(C1)commending ourselves as ^(F1)(C2)servants of God, ^(C3)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,⁵ in ^(C1)beatings, in imprisonments, in ^(C2)tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in ^(C3)hunger,⁶ in purity, in ^(C1)knowledge, in ^(C2)patience, in kindness, in the ^(C3)Holy Spirit, in ^(C4)genuine love,⁷ in ^(C1)the word of truth, in ^(C2)the power of God; by ^(C3)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,⁸ by glory and ^(C1)dishonor, by ^(C2)evil report and good report; regarded as ^(C3)deceivers and yet ^(C4)true;⁹ as unknown ^(F1)yet well-known, as ^(C1)dying ^(F1)yet behold, ^(C2)we live; as ^(F2)punished ^(F1)yet not put to death,¹⁰ as ^(C1)sorrowful yet always ^(C1)rejoicing, as ^(C2)poor yet making many rich, as ^(C3)having nothing ^(F1)yet possessing ^(C4)all things.

^11 (C1)Our mouth ^(F1)has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our ^(C2)heart is opened wide.¹² You are not restrained ^(F1)by us, but ^(C1)you are restrained in your own ^(F2)affections.¹³ Now in a like ^(C1)exchange--I speak as to ^(C2)children--open wide to us also.

^14 (C1)Do not be ^(F1)bound together with ^(C2)unbelievers; for what ^(C3)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?¹⁵ Or what ^(C1)harmony has Christ with ^(F1)Belial, or ^(F2)what has a ^(C2)believer in common with an ^(C3)unbeliever?¹⁶ Or ^(C1)what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are ^(C2)the temple of ^(C3)the living God; just as God said,

"^(C4)I WILL ^(C5)DWELL IN THEM AND ^(C6)WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

¹⁷ "^(C1)Therefore, ^(C2)COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord.
"AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.

¹⁸ "^(C1)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be ^(C2)sons and daughters to Me,"
Says the Lord Almighty.