1 We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose. 2 (For he says, I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation): 3 Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work; 4 But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God, in quiet strength, in troubles, in need, in sorrow, 5 In blows, in prisons, in attacks, in hard work, in watchings, in going without food; 6 In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love, 7 In the true word, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By glory and by shame, by an evil name and a good name; as untrue, and still true; 9 Unnoted, but still kept fully in mind; as near to death, but still living; as undergoing punishment, but not put to death; 10 As full of sorrow, but ever glad; as poor, but giving wealth to others; as having nothing, but still having all things. 11 Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is wide. 12 It is not our feelings to you which are narrow, but yours to us. 13 Now to give me back payment of the same sort (I am talking as to my children), let your hearts be wide open to me. 14 Do not keep company with those who have not faith: for what is there in common between righteousness and evil, or between light and dark? 15 And what agreement is there between Christ and the Evil One? or what part has one who has faith with one who has not? 16 And what agreement has the house of God with images? for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 For which cause, Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and let no unclean thing come near you; and I will take you for myself, 18 And will be a Father to you; and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord, the Ruler of all.
2 Corinthians · Bible in Basic English
2 Corinthians 6 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (18)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 12:15; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 1 Peter 4:10; Galatians 2:21; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20
- 2 Isaiah 49:8; Hebrews 4:7; Hebrews 3:13; Isaiah 61:2; Hebrews 3:7
- 3 Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 1 Corinthians 9:22; Matthew 18:6; 1 Corinthians 10:32–33
- 4 2 Corinthians 12:10; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 4:11–12; Romans 8:35–36
- 5 2 Corinthians 11:23–25; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Hebrews 11:36; Acts 19:23–34; Acts 17:5
- 6 Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 1:27; Galatians 5:22; Ephesians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 2:4
- 7 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 10:4–5; 2 Timothy 2:15; Ephesians 6:11–20; Ephesians 3:20
- 8 Matthew 27:63; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 Timothy 4:10; Acts 28:22; Revelation 3:9
- 9 2 Corinthians 4:10–11; Romans 8:36; 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 1:8–10; 2 Corinthians 11:6
- 10 John 16:22; 2 Corinthians 8:9; James 2:5; Revelation 2:9; Hebrews 10:34
- 11 Psalm 119:32; 2 Corinthians 7:3–4; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Philippians 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:4
- 12 2 Corinthians 7:2; Micah 2:7; Philippians 1:8; Job 36:16; 1 John 3:17
- 13 1 John 3:18; 3 John 4; 1 Corinthians 4:14–15; 1 John 3:7; 1 John 2:1
- 14 1 Corinthians 15:33; 1 Corinthians 10:21; James 4:4; Ephesians 5:6–14; Leviticus 19:19
- 15 1 Corinthians 10:20–21; 1 John 5:11–13; 1 Kings 18:21; 1 Samuel 5:2–4; Ezra 4:3
- 16 Revelation 21:3; Exodus 29:45; Hebrews 8:10; Leviticus 26:12; Ezekiel 37:26–27
- 17 Isaiah 52:11; Revelation 18:4; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 1:1–3; Numbers 16:26
- 18 Revelation 21:7; John 1:12; 2 Samuel 7:14; Romans 8:14–17; Galatians 4:5–7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For since he said, God beseeches, and we are ambassadors and suppliants unto you, that ye be "reconciled unto God:" lest they should become supine, he hereby again alarms and arouses them, saying: "We intreat that ye receive not the grace of God in vain." For let us not,' he says, therefore be at ease, because He beseeches and hath …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
… or how wide it spreads, than he that measures it and counts all its branches, and neither owns it nor knows or loves its Creator; so a just man, whose is the entire world of wealth, and who, as having nothing, yet possesseth all things by cleaving unto Thee, to whom all things are subservient, though he know not even …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" And while the children of heathens, who know nothing of resurrection, do yet find words of consolation, saying, "Bear it manfully, for it is not possible to undo what hath taken place, nor to amend it by lamentations;" art not thou, who hearest sayings wiser and better than these, ashamed …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
The present is the season of confession: confess what thou hast done in word or in deed, by night or by day; confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation receive the heavenly treasure.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… through communion with Himself to incorruption), and when moreover, through the transgression of the command we had confused and obliterated the marks of the divine image, and had become evil, we were stripped of our communion with God (for what communion hath light with darkness?): and having been shut out from life we became subject to the corruption of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)