6:1

As we work together with him, ^F14 we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.

6:2

For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!

6:3

We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

6:4

but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

6:5

beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;

6:6

by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,

6:7

truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

6:8

in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;

6:9

as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;

6:10

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

6:11

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.

6:12

There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.

6:13

In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

FOOTNOTES:
F14: Gk [As we work together]

6:1

Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.

6:2

God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.

6:3

Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing.

6:4

Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;

6:5

when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;

6:6

with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;

6:7

when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;

6:8

when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;

6:9

ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;

6:10

immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

6:11

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.

6:12

We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way.

6:13

I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!