## Commendable Ministers of God 

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And working together _with Him_, we also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain-- 

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for He says, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation"-- 

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giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, 

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but in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God, in much perseverance, in afflictions, in distresses, in hardships, 

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in beatings, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, 

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in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love, 

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in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, 

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by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; _regarded_ as deceivers and _yet_ true; 

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as unknown and _yet_ well-known, as dying and _yet_ behold, we live; as punished and _yet_ not put to death, 

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as sorrowful but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and _yet_ possessing all things. 

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Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. 

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You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. 

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Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide _to us_ also. 

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Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 

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Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 

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Or what agreement has a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 

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Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean, And I will welcome you. 

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And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty.