1And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2( for he saith , At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold , now is the acceptable time ; behold , now is the day of salvation ): 3giving no occasion of stumbling in anything , that our ministration be not blamed ; 4but in everything commending ourselves , as ministers of God , in much patience , in afflictions , in necessities, in distresses , 5in stripes , in imprisonments , in tumults, in labors , in watchings, in fastings ; 6in pureness, in knowledge , in longsuffering , in kindness , in the Holy Spirit , in love unfeigned, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God ; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report ; as deceivers , and yet true; 9as unknown, and yet well known ; as dying, and behold , we live ; as chastened , and not killed ; 10as sorrowful , yet always rejoicing ; as poor , yet making many rich ; as having nothing , and yet possessing all things . 11Our mouth is open unto you , O Corinthians , our heart is enlarged . 12Ye are not straitened in us , but ye are straitened in your own affections . 13Now for a recompense in like kind ( I speak as unto my children ), be ye also enlarged . 14Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness ?
God's Promises and Our Response
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols ? for we are a temple of the living God ; even as God said , I will dwell in them , and walk in them ; and I will be their God , and they shall be my people . 17Wherefore Come ye out from among them , and be ye separate, saith the Lord , And touch no unclean thing ; And I will receive you , 18And will be to you a Father , And ye shall be to me sons and daughters , saith the Lord Almighty .