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2 Corinthians

Chapter 6

Grace Not in Vain and Holy Separation

Paul urges the Corinthians not to receive God's grace in vain, naming the present as the time of favor, and then describes a ministry that commends itself not by ease or display but by endurance, integrity, and the strange fullness of weakness. He speaks to Corinth with an open heart and asks for the same in return. The chapter then turns to holiness, warning against mismatched partnership with unbelief and calling God's people to live as his temple, separated from what is unclean under his promises.

This chapter continues the reconciliation appeal of chapter 5 by pressing it into response, ministry, and common life. It also prepares the opening of chapter 7, where the promises and the plea for open hearts are gathered up again.

2 sections·249 words·~1 min read

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2 Corinthians 6

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vv. 1-13

Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

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A1s God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For He says:

3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; 5in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; 6in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; 9unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. 12It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained. 13As a fair exchange— I speak as to my children— open wide your hearts also.

vv. 14-18

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

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D14o not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

17“Therefore come out from among them 18And:

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  1. 01vv. 1-13Paul’s Hardships and God’s GracePaul urges the Corinthians not to let grace go to waste, because God's favorable time is now, and then lays out the pattern of apostolic ministry through hardship, integrity, and the paradoxes of weakness. The section ends not in distance but in affection, as Paul says his heart is open to them and asks them to open theirs in return.
  2. 02vv. 14-18Do Not Be Unequally YokedPaul warns the Corinthians not to be joined unequally with unbelief, drawing sharp contrasts between righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, the temple of God and idols. Because believers are the temple of the living God, he gathers scriptural promises that call them out from uncleanness and name them as God's sons and daughters.
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