2 Corinthians 6
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
2 Corinthians chapter 6 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
2 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from Saint John Chrysostom.
2 Corinthians 6
1And working together with Him, we also urge that you not receive the grace of God in vain.συνεργοῦντες δὲ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν μὴ εἰς κενὸν τὴν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ δέξασθαι ὑμᾶς—
2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.λέγει γάρ, Καιρῷ δεκτῷ ἐπήκουσά σου, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σωτηρίας ἐβοήθησά σοι· ἰδού, νῦν καιρὸς εὐπρόσδεκτος, ἰδού, νῦν ἡμέρα σωτηρίας—
3We give no occasion for offense in anything, lest the ministry be blamed,μηδεμίαν ἐν μηδενὶ διδόντες προσκοπήν, ἵνα μὴ μωμηθῇ ἡ διακονία·
4but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God: in much endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses,ἀλλ᾽ ἐν παντὶ συνιστῶντες ἑαυτοὺς ὡς Θεοῦ διάκονοι, ἐν ὑπομονῇ πολλῇ, ἐν θλίψεσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκαις, ἐν στενοχωρίαις,
5in stripes, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings;ἐν πληγαῖς, ἐν φυλακαῖς, ἐν ἀκαταστασίαις, ἐν κόποις, ἐν ἀγρυπνίαις, ἐν νηστείαις,
6in purity, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,ἐν ἁγνότητι, ἐν γνώσει, ἐν μακροθυμίᾳ, ἐν χρηστότητι, ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, ἐν ἀγάπῃ ἀνυποκρίτῳ,
7through the word of truth, through the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,ἐν λόγῳ ἀληθείας, ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ, διὰ τῶν ὅπλων τῆς δικαιοσύνης τῶν δεξιῶν καὶ ἀριστερῶν,
8by honor and dishonor, by ill repute and good repute; as deceivers, and yet true;διὰ δόξης καὶ ἀτιμίας, διὰ δυσφημίας καὶ εὐφημίας· ὡς πλάνοι καὶ ἀληθεῖς·
9as being unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as being disciplined, and not being put to death;ὡς ἀγνοούμενοι, καὶ ἐπιγινωσκόμενοι· ὡς ἀποθνῄσκοντες, καὶ ἰδού, ζῶμεν· ὡς παιδευόμενοι, καὶ μὴ θανατούμενοι·
10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.ὡς λυπούμενοι, ἀεὶ δὲ χαίροντες· ὡς πτωχοί, πολλοὺς δὲ πλουτίζοντες· ὡς μηδὲν ἔχοντες, καὶ πάντα κατέχοντες.
11O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart has been opened wide.Τὸ στόμα ἡμῶν ἀνέῳγε πρὸς ὑμᾶς, Κορίνθιοι, ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν πεπλάτυνται.
12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.Οὐ στενοχωρεῖσθε ἐν ἡμῖν, στενοχωρεῖσθε δὲ ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν.
13Now in return for the same—I speak as to children—you also be opened wide.Τὴν δὲ αὐτὴν ἀντιμισθίαν—ὡς τέκνοις λέγω—πλατύνθητε καὶ ὑμεῖς.
14Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what participation is there for righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion is there for light with darkness?Μὴ γίνεσθε ἑτεροζυγοῦντες ἀπίστοις· τίς γὰρ μετοχὴ δικαιοσύνῃ καὶ ἀνομίᾳ; Τίς δὲ κοινωνία φωτὶ πρὸς σκότος;
15And what agreement is there for Christ with Belial? Or what part is there for a believer with an unbeliever?Τίς δὲ συμφώνησις Χριστῷ πρὸς Βελίαρ; Ἢ τίς μερὶς πιστῷ μετὰ ἀπίστου;
16And what union is there for the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”Τίς δὲ συγκατάθεσις ναῷ Θεοῦ μετὰ εἰδώλων; Ὑμεῖς γὰρ ναὸς Θεοῦ ἐστε ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ Θεὸς ὅτι Ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω· καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν Θεός, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι λαός.
17Therefore “Come out from the midst of them and be separated,” says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”Διό, Ἐξέλθετε ἐκ μέσου αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφορίσθητε, λέγει Κύριος, καὶ ἀκαθάρτου μὴ ἅπτεσθε· κἀγὼ εἰσδέξομαι ὑμᾶς,
18“I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”καὶ ἔσομαι ὑμῖν εἰς πατέρα, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθέ μοι εἰς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ.
The Fathers on 2 Corinthians 6
Saint John Chrysostom comments on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On 2 Corinthians 6:1–2Saint John ChrysostomAnd working together with Him we intreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee. And in a day of salvation did I succor thee.
Read Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians →
On 2 Corinthians 6:11–12Open 2 Corinthians 6 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint John ChrysostomOur mouth is open unto you, O ye Corinthians, our heart is enlarged, ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.
Read Homilies on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians →