Paul's Hardships and God's Grace

1And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God —

2for He saith, ‘In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,’ —

3in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed, 4but in everything recommending ourselves as God’s ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses, 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings, 6in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, 7in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left, 8through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true; 9as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death; 10as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11Our mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged! 12ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your [own] bowels, 13and [as] a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say [it],) be ye enlarged — also ye!

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

(Exodus 29:45-46)

14Become not yoked with others — unbelievers, for what partaking [is there] to righteousness and lawlessness? 15and what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?

16and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said — ‘I will dwell in them, and will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,

17wherefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I — I will receive you,

18and I will be to you for a Father, and ye — ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’