Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

1WE then as labourers with him, exhort you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

2for he saith, ?In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I succoured thee.? Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4but in every thing approving ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 6in purity, in knowledge, in long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7by the word of truth, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, 8through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, yet true men; 9as unknown, though well known; as dying, and lo! we live; as chastened, yet not given over to death; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11Our mouth is opened unto you, O Corinthians! our heart is enlarged. 12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13Let us have a like return; I speak as unto children; be ye also enlarged.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

14Be not unequally yoked with infidels; for what participation hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what fellowship is there between light and darkness? 15and what concord of Christ with Belial? or what share hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16or what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, ?I will inhabit in them, and walk about in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be for me a people.?

17?Wherefore go forth from the midst of them, and be ye separated, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean; and I will receive you,

18and I will be as a father unto you, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.?