6As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.G3870G1161G4903G3870G2532G5209G1209G3361G5485G2316G1519G27562For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.G1063G3004G1873G4675G2540G1184G2532G1722G2250G4991G997G4671G2400G3568G2144G2540G2400G3568G2250G4991
Paul’s Hardships
3We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.G1325G3367G4349G1722G3367G3363G1248G3469G3363G34694In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.G235G1722G3956G4921G1438G5613G1249G2316G1722G4183G5281G1722G2347G1722G318G1722G47305We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.G1722G4127G1722G5438G1722G181G1722G2873G1722G70G1722G35216We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.G1722G54G1722G1108G1722G3115G1722G5544G1722G40G4151G1722G26G5057We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.G1722G3056G225G1722G1411G2316G1223G3696G1343G1188G2532G7108We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.G1223G1391G2532G819G1223G1426G2532G2162G5613G4108G2532G2279We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.G5613G50G2532G1921G5613G599G2532G2400G2198G5613G3811G2532G3361G228910Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.G5613G3076G1161G104G5463G5613G4434G1161G4148G4183G4148G5613G2192G3367G2532G2722G395611Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.G2881G2257G4750G455G4314G5209G2257G2588G411512There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.G4729G3756G4729G1722G2254G1161G4729G1722G5216G469813I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!G1161G489G846G3004G5613G5043G4115G5210G2532G4115
The Temple of the Living God
14Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?G1096G3361G2086G571G1063G5101G3352G1343G2532G458G1161G5101G2842G5457G4314G465515What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?G1161G5101G4857G5547G4314G955G2228G5101G3310G4103G3326G57116And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.G1161G5101G4783G3485G2316G3326G1497G1063G5210G2075G3485G2198G2316G2531G2316G2036G3754G1774G1722G846G2532G1704G2532G2071G846G2316G2532G846G2071G3427G299217Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.G1352G1831G1537G3319G846G2532G873G3004G2962G2532G680G3361G169G2504G1523G520918And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”G2532G2071G1519G3962G5213G2532G5210G2071G3427G5207G1519G2532G2364G3004G2962G3841