2 Corinthians 6:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

NIV: For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

NASB: for He says, 'AT A FAVORABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON A DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.' Behold, now is 'A FAVORABLE TIME,' behold, now is 'A DAY OF SALVATION'—

CSB: For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!

NLT: For God says, 'At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.' Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation.

KJV: For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

NKJV: For 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.

Paul has warned those in Corinth not to receive God's grace in vain. This refers to how they respond to hearing the message, not a suggestion that God's grace cannot save them. In other words, they are cautioned to accept the gospel of reconciliation with God through faith in Christ alone and nothing else. It's possible some in Corinth were being influenced by false teachers. They were trapped in counterfeit versions of the gospel that may have included legalism under the Old Testament law, or continuing to worship idols.

Paul uses a quote from Isaiah 49:8 to remind the Corinthians that this invitation to be reconciled to God through Christ is a limited time offer. God told Isaiah that He had heard the prophet in a favorable time and helped him in a day of salvation.

Paul insists that for those who would be heard and helped by God through faith in Christ, now is the favorable time and the day of salvation. God never speaks to someone to tell them to be saved "someday." He does not call on people to delay, but to turn to Christ right now.

Not every time or every day will be open for salvation. Mostly, that's because nobody knows how many days they have left in life (James 4:14). Eventually, time runs out and eternity begins. Paul may also have in mind the return of Christ and the day of judgment (1 Thessalonians 5:2). When the end comes—by death or apocalypse—it will be too late to be reconciled to God. Paul does not want his readers to hesitate to put their full faith in Christ for salvation.

Second Corinthians 6:1–13 contains Paul commendation of himself and his co-workers to the Corinthians. He offers evidence that they have not been false apostles. They have faithfully represented Christ through every kind of suffering and God's power has been obvious in and through them. He declares that they have been faultless and urges the Corinthians not to miss the day of God's salvation through faith in Christ. He states warmly that his heart remains wide open to the church in Corinth and asks them to open their hearts to him again.

This passage appeals to the Corinthians not to miss the day of salvation. Paul insists that he and those who work with him have done nothing to keep anyone from believing in Christ. He points to the evidence that he has been a true apostle and representative of Christ and asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him again. He commands them not to harness themselves to unbelievers since Christ can have nothing to do with Satan or darkness. God lives in them through the Holy Spirit, so they must separate from everything that is opposed to God.

Second Corinthians 6 is set up by the message of God's grace for sinners as spelled it out in the previous chapter. Paul begs the Corinthians not to receive it in vain. He declares that he and his team have done nothing to keep them from believing in Christ. Parallel to this, he commands the Corinthians not to be harnessed to unbelievers. This leads into a passionate discussion of affliction and comfort in chapter 7.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.