2 Corinthians 6 (KJV) (2024)

6As God’s co-workers^(A) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.^{(B) 2}For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^[a](C)

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Paul’s Hardships

³We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,^(D) so that our ministry will not be discredited. ⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments^(E) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;^{(F) 6}in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit^(G) and in sincere love;^{(H) 7}in truthful speech^(I) and in the power of God;^(J) with weapons of righteousness^(K) in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor,^(L) bad report^(M) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;^{(N) 9}known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,^(O) and yet we live on;^(P) beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;^(Q) poor, yet making many rich;^(R) having nothing,^(S) and yet possessing everything.^(T)

¹¹We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.^{(U) 12}We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. ¹³As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children^(V)—open wide your hearts^(W) also.

Warning Against Idolatry

¹⁴Do not be yoked together^(X) with unbelievers.^(Y) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?^{(Z) 15}What harmony is there between Christ and Belial^[b]?^(AA) Or what does a believer^(AB) have in common with an unbeliever?^{(AC) 16}What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?^(AD) For we are the temple^(AE) of the living God.^(AF) As God has said:

“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”^[c](AG)

¹⁷Therefore,

“Come out from them^(AH)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”^[d](AI)

¹⁸And,

“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,^(AJ)
says the Lord Almighty.”^[e](AK)

Footnotes

1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
3. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
4. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
5. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

Cross references

1. 2 Corinthians 6:1 : S 1Co 3:9; 2Co 5:20
2. 2 Corinthians 6:1 : 1Co 15:2
3. 2 Corinthians 6:2 : Isa 49:8; Ps 69:13; Isa 55:6
4. 2 Corinthians 6:3 : S Mt 5:29; Ro 14:13, 20; 1Co 8:9, 13; 9:12; 10:32
5. 2 Corinthians 6:5 : Ac 16:23; 2Co 11:23-25
6. 2 Corinthians 6:5 : 1Co 4:11
7. 2 Corinthians 6:6 : 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5
8. 2 Corinthians 6:6 : Ro 12:9; 1Ti 1:5
9. 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 2Co 4:2
10. 2 Corinthians 6:7 : 2Co 4:7
11. 2 Corinthians 6:7 : Ro 13:12; 2Co 10:4; Eph 6:10-18
12. 2 Corinthians 6:8 : 1Co 4:10
13. 2 Corinthians 6:8 : 1Co 4:13
14. 2 Corinthians 6:8 : Mt 27:63
15. 2 Corinthians 6:9 : S Ro 8:36
16. 2 Corinthians 6:9 : 2Co 1:8-10; 4:10, 11
17. 2 Corinthians 6:10 : S Mt 5:12; 2Co 7:4; Php 2:17; 4:4; Col 1:24; 1Th 1:6
18. 2 Corinthians 6:10 : 2Co 8:9
19. 2 Corinthians 6:10 : Ac 3:6
20. 2 Corinthians 6:10 : Ro 8:32; 1Co 3:21
21. 2 Corinthians 6:11 : 2Co 7:3
22. 2 Corinthians 6:13 : S 1Th 2:11
23. 2 Corinthians 6:13 : 2Co 7:2
24. 2 Corinthians 6:14 : Ge 24:3; Dt 22:10; 1Co 5:9, 10
25. 2 Corinthians 6:14 : 1Co 6:6
26. 2 Corinthians 6:14 : Eph 5:7, 11; 1Jn 1:6
27. 2 Corinthians 6:15 : 1Co 10:21
28. 2 Corinthians 6:15 : Ac 5:14
29. 2 Corinthians 6:15 : 1Co 6:6
30. 2 Corinthians 6:16 : 1Co 10:21
31. 2 Corinthians 6:16 : S 1Co 3:16
32. 2 Corinthians 6:16 : S Mt 16:16
33. 2 Corinthians 6:16 : Lev 26:12; Jer 32:38; Eze 37:27; Rev 21:3
34. 2 Corinthians 6:17 : Rev 18:4
35. 2 Corinthians 6:17 : Isa 52:11; Eze 20:34, 41
36. 2 Corinthians 6:18 : Ex 4:22; 2Sa 7:14; 1Ch 17:13; Isa 43:6; S Ro 8:14
37. 2 Corinthians 6:18 : 2Sa 7:8