Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
1
Since we are God's coworkers, we urge you not to let God's kindness be wasted on you.
2 (For He saith, "I have heard thee at an accepted time, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee." Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, now is the day of salvation!)
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God says, "At the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is God's acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!
3 Give no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;
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We don't give people any opportunity to find fault with how we serve.
4 but in all things commending ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience: in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
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Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God's servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,
5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
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beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, and lack of food.
6 by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
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[People can see] our purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit's presence [in our lives], our sincere love,
7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left;
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truthfulness, and the presence of God's power. We demonstrate that we are God's servants
8 through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report; though counted as deceivers and yet true,
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as we are praised and dishonored, as we are slandered and honored, and as we use what is right to attack what is wrong and to defend the truth. We are treated as dishonest although we are honest,
9 as unknown and yet well known, as dying and yet behold we live, as chastened and not killed,
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as unknown although we are well-known, as dying although, as you see, we go on living. We are punished, but we are not killed.
10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
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People think we are sad although we're always glad, that we're beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is opened unto you, and our heart is enlarged.
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We have been very open in speaking to you Corinthians. We have a place for you in our hearts.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.
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We haven't cut you off. Your own emotions have cut you off [from us].
13 Now as a recompense for this (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.
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I'm talking to you as I would talk to children. Treat us the same way we've treated you. Make a place for us in your hearts too.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?
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Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
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Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said: "I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
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Can God's temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."
17 Therefore, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord. "And touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you,
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The Lord says, "Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you."
18 and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty.
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The Lord Almighty says, "I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.