2 Corinthians 6:1 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹ As workers together with God we urge you also, who have received God’s unearned favor, do not allow it to be for nothing,

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹ LABORING TOGETHER [as God's fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them–do not receive it to no purpose].

American Standard Version (1901)

¹ And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

Common English Bible

¹ Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹ But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1 Cross References

Matthew 23:37

“O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [you people] who murdered the prophets and stoned those who were sent to you! How often I have wanted to gather you people together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Acts 11:23

When he got there and saw how God was favoring the people [with salvation] he was very happy and [stayed on and] encouraged everyone to remain close to the Lord with a heartfelt purpose.

Acts 14:3

Paul and Barnabas remained there a long time and spoke [the message] boldly for [or, in the power of] the Lord who gave His approval to the message of unearned favor by allowing [miraculous] signs and wonders to be performed by them.

Romans 12:1

So, I urge you, brothers, because God is so merciful [to us], to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, [fully] dedicated and very pleasing to God. For this is a reasonable [or spiritual] way for you to worship [or serve] Him.

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are all fellow-workers in God’s service; you people are God’s farm land; [you are] God’s building.

2 Corinthians 10:1

Now I Paul, who am humble [when speaking] face to face with you, but bold when I am away from you, urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ [Note: This means either Paul was imitating Christ’s behavior or that the Corinthians were to do so]:

Galatians 2:21

[In doing this] I am not trying to disregard God’s unearned favor, for if a person could become right with God by [perfect obedience to the requirements of] the Law of Moses, then Christ died for nothing.

Galatians 3:4

Did you suffer so many things [for the faith] all for nothing? [That is], if it really was for nothing?

1 Thessalonians 3:5

[So], for this reason, when I could not stand it any longer, I also sent [Timothy] to find out about your faith. I was afraid that somehow the tempter [i.e., Satan] had tempted you [to give up] and that our work [on your behalf] will have become useless.

Titus 2:11

For God’s unearned favor has appeared, bringing salvation to all people [i.e., in the coming of Christ].

Hebrews 12:15

Look carefully [at how you are living] so that no one falls away from God’s unearned favor, and that no “poisonous plant sprouts up” to cause trouble and corrupt many people [Note: This is an analogy from Deut. 29:16-18 being used as a warning against the evil influence of wicked people],

Hebrews 12:25

Pay careful attention so that you do not refuse [to hear] God when He speaks to you. [See verse 9]. For if those people [i.e., the Israelites] did not escape [judgment] when they refused [to hear] Him who warned them on earth [i.e., God speaking through Moses at Mount Sinai], how much less [likely] will we escape [judgment] if we reject Him who warns from heaven [i.e., Christ]?

Hebrews 4:1

So, as long as God’s promise of entering into a state of rest with Him [still] remains, we should fear that someone among you will appear [in the end] to have fallen short of [attaining] it. [Note: In this section “entering into rest” refers to Israel entering Canaan (verses 6, 8) and to Christians entering heaven (verses 3, 9) . The “Sabbath day rest” is presented as a type of both].

1 Peter 4:10

As each of you has received a gift [from God], you should make use of it [in the body], so that you will be [good] caretakers of the many unearned ways that God favors you.