Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

6 [As] [God’s] fellow workers,[fn] then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

2 For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in [the] day of salvation I helped you.”[fn] Behold, now [is the] time of favor; now [is the] day of salvation!

3 We put no obstacle in [anyone’s] {way}, so that no one can discredit [our] ministry.

4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, [and] calamities; 5 in beatings, imprisonments, [and] riots; in labor, sleepless nights, [and] hunger; 6 in purity, knowledge, patience, [and] kindness; in [the] Holy Spirit [and] in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech [and] in [the] power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in [the] left; 8 through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; 9 unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet {making} many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. 12 [It is] not our affection, [but] yours, that is restrained. 13 [As] a fair exchange—I speak as to [my] children—open wide your [hearts] also.