aWorking together with Him, bwe strongly urge you not to receive cGod’s grace in vain by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness.1 Cor 3:92 Cor 5:20Acts 11:23 2 For He says,“aAT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,AND I HELPED YOU ON THE DAY OF SALVATION.”Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”— Is 49:8Is 49:8 3 awe put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited,1 Cor 8:9, 13; 9:12 4 but we acommend ourselves in every way as bservants of God: cin great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses,Rom 3:51 Cor 3:5; 2 Tim 2:24fActs 9:16; 2 Cor 4:8-11; 6:4ff; 11:23-27; 12:10 5 in abeatings, in imprisonments, in briots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in chunger,Acts 16:23Acts 19:23ff1 Cor 4:11 6 in purity and sincerity, in aknowledge and spiritual insight, in bpatience, in kindness, in the cHoly Spirit, in dgenuine love,1 Cor 12:8; 2 Cor 11:62 Cor 1:23; 2:10; 13:101 Cor 2:4; 1 Thess 1:5Rom 12:9 7 in speaking athe word of truth, in bthe power of God; by cthe weapons of righteousness for the right hand like holding the sword to attack and for the left like holding the shield to defend,2 Cor 2:17; 4:21 Cor 2:5Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 10:4; Eph 6:11ff 8 amid glory and adishonor; by bevil report and good report; branded as cdeceivers and yet vindicated as dtruthful;1 Cor 4:10Rom 3:8; 1 Cor 4:13; 2 Cor 12:16Matt 27:632 Cor 1:18; 4:2; 1 Thess 2:3f 9 as unknown to the world, yet well-known by God and His people; as adying, yet bwe live; as punished, yet not killed;Rom 8:362 Cor 1:8, 10; 4:11 10 as asorrowful, yet always brejoicing; as cpoor, yet bestowing riches on many; as dhaving nothing, yet possessing eall things.John 16:22; 2 Cor 7:4; Phil 2:17; 4:4; Col 1:24; 1 Thess 1:61 Cor 1:5; 2 Cor 8:9Acts 3:6Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 3:21
11 aWe are speaking freely to you, Corinthians we are keeping nothing back, and our bheart is opened wide. Is 60:5; Ezek 33:22Ezek 33:22; Eph 6:19Is 60:5; 2 Cor 7:3 12 There is no limit to our affection for you, but ayou are limited in your own affection for us.2 Cor 7:2 13 Now in athe same way as a fair exchange for our love toward you—I am speaking as I would to bchildren—open wide your hearts to us also.Gal 4:121 Cor 4:14
14 aDo not be unequally bound together with bunbelievers do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith. For what cpartnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?Deut 22:10; 1 Cor 5:9f1 Cor 6:6Eph 5:7, 11; 1 John 1:6 15 What aharmony can there be between Christ and Belial ? Or what does a bbeliever have in common with an cunbeliever?1 Cor 10:21Acts 5:14; 1 Pet 1:211 Cor 6:6 16 aWhat agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are bthe temple of cthe living God; just as God said:“dI WILL eDWELL AMONG THEM AND fWALK AMONG THEM;AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. Ex 25:8; 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:271 Cor 10:211 Cor 3:16; 6:19Matt 16:16Ex 29:45; Lev 26:12; Jer 31:1; Ezek 37:27Ex 25:8; John 14:23Rev 2:1