1 *Mark 16:20;1 Cor. 3:9;[Acts 15:4] Working together with him, then, *ch. 5:20we appeal to you *[Heb. 12:15]not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

*Cited from Isa. 49:8"In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you."

Behold, *[Ps. 32:6;69:13;Isa. 55:6;Heb. 3:13] now is the *[Luke 4:19]favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We *See 1 Cor. 8:13;9:12put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but *[1 Thess. 3:2;2 Tim. 2:24,25]; See ch. 3:6as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: *ch. 12:12;2 Tim. 3:10by great endurance, *Acts 9:16in afflictions, *ch. 12:10hardships, calamities, 5 *ch. 11:23-27;Acts 16:23beatings, imprisonments, *Acts 17:5riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 *1 Thess. 2:10by purity, *ch. 11:6knowledge, patience, kindness, *Rom. 15:19;1 Thess. 1:5the Holy Spirit, *Rom. 12:9;[James 3:17]genuine love; 7 by *Eph. 1:13;Col. 1:5truthful speech, and *See 1 Cor. 2:5the power of God; with *ch. 10:4;Eph. 6:11-17the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, *Rom. 3:8through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and *[ch. 11:6] yet well known; *See ch. 4:10as dying, and behold, we live; *Ps. 118:18as punished, and yet not killed; 10 *John 16:22;[ch. 7:4] as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; *[ch. 8:9;Prov. 13:7;1 Cor. 1:5] as poor, yet making many rich; *Acts 3:6as having nothing, *1 Cor. 7:30yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you,*6:11 Greek Our mouth is open to you Corinthians; *ch. 7:3;[ch. 11:11;12:15;Ps. 119:32]our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but *ch. 7:2you are restricted in your own affections. 13 *[Gal. 4:12] In return (I speak *1 Cor. 4:14as to children) widen your hearts also.

14 *Deut. 7:3;Josh. 23:12;Ezra 9:2;Neh. 13:25;[1 Cor. 7:39] Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For *Eph. 5:7,11;1 John 1:6what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or *See Acts 26:18what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 *[1 Cor. 10:21]What accord has Christ with Belial?*6:15 Greek Beliar Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For *[Eph. 2:22]; See 1 Cor. 3:16we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

*Cited from Lev. 26:12;See Ex. 29:45"I will make my dwelling among them and *[Rev. 2:1;21:3] walk among them,

and *Ex. 6:7;Jer. 31:33;Ezek. 11:20I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17 Therefore *Cited from Isa. 52:11;[ch. 7:1;Ezek. 20:34,41;Zeph. 3:20;Rev. 18:4]go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18 *[Ex. 4:22;2 Sam. 7:8,14;Isa. 43:6;Jer. 31:9;Hos. 1:10;Rev. 21:7]and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty."