3 (We give no occasion for offense in anything, that the ministry not be faulted; 4 rather we commend ourselves as God's servants in every way with great endurance—in afflictions, in hardships, in distress, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by truthful speech, by God's power, with the weapons of the righteousness in the right hand and in the left;[c] 8 through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good repute; as ‘deceivers’ and true, 9 as unknown and well known, as dying and we live on, as chastened and not killed; 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything!)[d]
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is open wide. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to my children), you also be wide open.
14 Do not enter a mismatch with unbelievers;[e] for what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion can a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because
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a ‘Working together’ with whom? Presumably with other ambassadors, but also with God.
b See Isaiah 49:8. The ‘window’ of opportunity for any individual does not last forever.
c Why right and left? A right-handed soldier would have a shield in his left hand, for defense, with a sword or spear in his right, for offense—our weapons are for both offense and defense.
d Well, well, well, there really ought to be an easier way to make a living! Well, it depends on what kind of living quarters you want in Heaven. When I get there I hope to see many individuals who can say to me, “You made me rich; thank you!”.
e This does not refer only to marriage, as the explanation that follows makes clear.
f Instead of “you”, perhaps 4% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘we’, to be followed by NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.
g See Leviticus 26:12 and Ezekiel 37:27.
h See Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:34.
i This appears to be an application based on several passages.