Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Corinthians 6:16

"And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." — 2 Corinthians 6:16 (ASV)

And what agreement. sugkatayesiv. Assent, accord, agreement.

What putting or laying down together is there? What is there in one that resembles the other?

The temple of God. What has a temple of God to do with idol worship? It is erected for a different purpose, and the worship of idols in it would not be tolerated.

It is implied here that Christians are themselves the temple of God—a fact which Paul proceeds immediately to illustrate. It is as absurd for them to mingle with the infidel world as it would be to erect the image of a heathen god in the temple of JEHOVAH.

This is strong language; and we cannot but admire the energy and copiousness of the expressions used by Paul, "which cannot," says Bloomfield, "be easily paralleled in the best classical writers."

With idols. These are objects which God hates, and on which he cannot look but with abhorrence.

The sense is that for Christians to mingle with the sinful world—to partake of their pleasures, pursuits, and follies—is as detestable and hateful in the sight of God as if his temple were profaned by erecting a deformed, shapeless, and senseless block in it as an object of worship.

And assuredly, if Christians had such a sense of the abomination of mingling with the world, they would feel the obligation to be separate and pure.

For you are the temple of the living God. See this explained in the notes on 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 3:17.

The idea is that as God dwells with his people, they ought to be separated from a sinful and polluted world.

As God has said. The words quoted here are taken substantially from Exodus 29:45, Leviticus 26:12, and Ezekiel 37:27.

They are not literally quoted, but Paul has thrown together the substance of what occurs in several places. The sense, however, is the same as occurs in the places referred to.

I will dwell in them. enoikhsw. I will take up my indwelling in them. There is an allusion, doubtless, to the fact that he would be present among his people by the Shechinah, or the visible symbol of his presence. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 3:17.

It implies, when used with reference to Christians, that the Holy Spirit would abide with them and that the blessing of God would attend them. See Romans 8; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14.

And walk in them. That is, I will walk among them. I will be one of their number. He was present among the Jews by the public manifestation of his presence by a symbol; He is present with Christians by the presence and guidance of his Holy Spirit.

And I will be their God. This means not only the God whom they worship, but the God who will protect and bless them.

I will take them under my peculiar protection, and they shall enjoy my favour.

This is certainly as true of Christians as it was of the Jews, and Paul has not departed from the spirit of the promise in applying it to the Christian character.

His object in quoting these passages is to impress on Christians the solemnity and importance of the truth that God dwelt among them and with them; that they were under his care and protection; that they belonged to him, and that they therefore should be separate from the world.

I will dwell: Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 31:1, 33; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 11:20; Ezekiel 36:28; Ezekiel 27:26–27; Zechariah 8:8.

"in," "among."