Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace
1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For He says:
“In the time of favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
- 2CO 6:2[FULFILLS]God would help His Servant in the day of salvation ← IS 49:8MEDIUM
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.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
14Do 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:
- 2CO 6:14[NOTE]UNEQUALLY YOKED. A yoke joins two animals to pull together. The law said not to plow with an ox and a donkey together, Deuteronomy 22:10, because they pull differently. Most churches apply this first to marriage: a believer should marry a believer. But Paul's own examples are idols and partnerships of every kind, 6:15 to 16. It does not mean cut off unbelievers. Paul says the opposite in 1 Corinthians 5:10.
“I will dwell with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be My people.”
- 2CO 6:16[DEMONIC]The temple of God has no agreement with idols
- 2CO 6:16[FULFILLS]God would walk among His people and be their God ← LEV 26:12
- 2CO 6:16[FULFILLS]My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God and they My people ← EZK 37:27MEDIUM
17“Therefore come out from among them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
- 2CO 6:17[QUOTES]Direct ← IS 52:11
18And:
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”