1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”6:2 Isaiah 49:8
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
17Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
18And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
16:1 1Kor 3:9; 2Kor 5:20; 1Kor 15; 2Kama watendakazi pamoja na Mungu, tunawasihi msipokee neema ya Mungu bure. 26:2 Isa 49; 8; Za 69:13; Isa 55:6Kwa maana asema:
“Wakati wangu uliokubalika nilikusikia,
siku ya wokovu nilikusaidia.”
Tazama, wakati uliokubalika ndio huu, siku ya wokovu ndiyo sasa.
Taabu Za Paulo
36:3 Mt 5:29; Rum 14:13-20; 1Kor 8:9-13; 9:13; 10:32Hatuweki kitu cha kukwaza katika njia ya mtu yeyote, ili huduma yetu isionekane kuwa na lawama. 46:4 2Kor 4:2; 1Kor 4:1Bali kama watumishi wa Mungu tuonyeshe kwa kila njia: katika saburi nyingi; katika dhiki, katika misiba, na katika shida; 56:5 Mdo 16:23; 2Kor 11:23-25; 1Kor 4:11katika kupigwa, katika kufungwa gerezani na katika ghasia; katika kazi ngumu, katika kukesha na katika kufunga; 66:6 1Kor 2:4; Rum 12:5; 1Tim 1:5; 1The 1:5katika utakatifu, katika ufahamu, katika uvumilivu, na katika utu wema; katika Roho Mtakatifu na upendo wa kweli; 76:7 2Kor 4:2-7; Rum 13:12; 2Kor 10:4; Efe 6:10-18katika maneno ya kweli na katika nguvu za Mungu, kwa silaha za haki za mkono wa kuume na za mkono wa kushoto; 86:8 1Kor 4:10-13; Mt 27:63katika utukufu na katika kudharauliwa; katika sifa mbaya na katika sifa nzuri; tukiwa kama wadanganyaji, lakini tukiwa wakweli; 96:9 Rum 8:36; 2Kor 1:8-10; 4:10-11tukiwa maarufu, lakini tukihesabiwa kama tusiojulikana; tukiwa kama wanaokufa, lakini tunaishi; tukipigwa, lakini hatuuawi; 106:10 Mt 5:12; 2Kor 7; 4; Flp 2:17; 4:4; Kol 1:24; 1The 1:6; 2Kor 8:9; Mdo 3:6; Rum 8:32tukiwa kama wenye huzuni, lakini siku zote tukifurahi; tukionekana maskini, lakini tukitajirisha wengi; tukiwa kama wasio na kitu, lakini tuna vitu vyote.
116:11 2Kor 7:3; Za 119:32Tumesema nanyi wazi, enyi Wakorintho na kuwafungulieni mioyo yetu wazi kabisa. 126:12 2Nya 12:15Sisi hatujizuii kuwapenda, bali ninyi mmeuzuia upendo wenu kwetu. 136:13 1The 2:11; 2Kor 7:2Sasa nasema, kama na watoto wangu: Ninyi pia ifungueni mioyo yenu kabisa.
Msifungiwe Nira Pamoja Na Wasioamini
146:14 Mwa 24:3; Kum 22:10; 1Kor 5:9-10; Efe 5:7-11Msifungiwe nira pamoja na watu wasioamini, kwa jinsi isivyo sawasawa, kwa maana pana uhusiano gani kati ya haki na uovu? Au kuna ushirika gani kati ya nuru na giza? 156:15 1Kor 10:21; Mdo 5:14; 1Kor 6; 6Kuna mapatano gani kati ya Kristo na Beliari?6:15 Beliari hapa ina maana ya uovu, kutokumcha Mungu. Yeye aaminiye ana sehemu gani na yeye asiyeamini? 166:16 1Kor 10:21; 3:16; Mt 16:16; Law 26:12; Yer 32:38; Eze 37:27; Ufu 21; 3Kuna mapatano gani kati ya Hekalu la Mungu na sanamu? Kwa kuwa sisi tu Hekalu la Mungu aliye hai. Kama Mungu alivyosema: “Nitakaa pamoja nao na kutembea katikati yao, nami nitakuwa Mungu wao, nao watakuwa watu wangu.”
176:17 Ufu 18; 4; Isa 51:11; Eze 20:34-41“Kwa hiyo tokeni miongoni mwao,
mkatengwe nao,
asema Bwana.
Msiguse kitu chochote kilicho najisi,
nami nitawakaribisha.”
186:18 Kut 4:22; 2Sam 7:14; 1Nya 17:13; Isa 43:6; Rum 8:14; 2Sam 7:8“Mimi nitakuwa Baba kwenu,
nanyi mtakuwa wanangu na binti zangu,
asema Bwana Mwenyezi.”
