A thoughtful guide for your walk of faith Read with context, practice with grace.
Pauline Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

2 Corinthians 6

Paul defends cruciform ministry and explores weakness, reconciliation, generosity, and comfort.

New Testament

2 Corinthians 6

1Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.

2For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

3We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

4but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,

6in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

7in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,

9as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed,

10as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.

11Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

13Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.

14Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?

16What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”

17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

18I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Paul defends cruciform ministry and explores weakness, reconciliation, generosity, and comfort. Read 2 Corinthians 6 within the complete 2 Corinthians overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6 contains 18 verses and about 330 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 18 closes: “I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, says, behold, receive, acceptable, time. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 2 Corinthians 6

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 2 Corinthians 6:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer