Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

"Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 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 6:14-16 (ASV)

Paul has just appealed to the Corinthians for mutual openness in affection and in speech. His own heart is open wide to them, but both he and they know why they cannot reciprocate as fully as they ought. Some of them have an uneasy conscience about their continuing pagan associations. The apparent abruptness of v.14a after v.13 may be explained: (1) by this mutual knowledge; (2) by Paul’s “coming to the point” immediately, as he sets forth the truth plainly (4:2) or speaks the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15); and (3) perhaps by a brief dictation pause.

Paul begins with a concise summary of his message in this brief digression (6:14–7:1), which repeats the main point of 1 Corinthians 10:1–22, his warning to the Corinthians of the danger of idolatry (note 1 Corinthians 10:14: “Flee from idolatry”). “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers” clearly is not an injunction against any and all association with unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9–10; 10:27). Paul actually encouraged the Christian partner in a mixed marriage to maintain the relationship as long as possible (1 Corinthians 7:12–16). Rather, this is a prohibition against forming close attachments with non-Christians, using an agricultural metaphor about yoking (cf. Dt 22:10). Although precisely what constituted a “diverse yoke” for the Corinthians remains unstated, it clearly involved compromise with heathendom, such as contracting mixed marriages (cf. Dt 7:1–3), initiating litigation before unbelievers in cases involving believers (1 Corinthians 6:1–8), or forming any relationship with unbelievers that would compromise Christian standards or jeopardize consistency of Christian witness. Paul is content to state a general principle that needs specific application under the Spirit’s guidance.

Five rhetorical questions follow (vv.14–16a), each of which presupposes a negative answer. They stress the incompatibility of Christianity and heathenism, the incongruity of intimate relationships or fellowship between believers and unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:21). After two comparisons of abstract nouns (“righteousness” and “light” with “wickedness” and “darkness”), there follow two personal comparisons—“Christ” and the “believer” with “Belial” and the “unbeliever.” The final contrast (v.16a) climaxes the series and prompts what follows (vv.16b–18).

The chief reason why believers must not enter any compromising relationship with unbelievers (v.14a) is that they belong exclusively to God. Corporately they form “the temple [or sanctuary; GK 3724] of the living God” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; Ephesians 2:22; see also 1 Corinthians 6:19). To establish this last point (v,16b) Paul quotes or alludes to several OT passages: Leviticus 26:11a, 12, (cf. Exodus 25:8; 29:45a; 1 Kings 6:13; Ezekiel 37:27a) and Ex 6:7 (cf. Jeremiah 32:38).