Be = Become. unequally yoked . Greek. heterozugeo . Only here. together with = to. unbelievers . Greek. apistos. See 2 Corinthians 4:4 . fellowship = Partaking, or share. Greek metoche. Only here. See 1 Corinthians 9:10 . hath = is there to. unrighteousness = lawlessness. Greek. anomia. App-128 . light . Greek. phos. App-130 . with = towards. Greek. pros, as in 2 Corinthians 6:11 . read more
Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what communion hath light with darkness?This apostolic order has at least two anchors in what Paul had just written: (1) He had just warned them against receiving the grace of God "in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1); and (2) he had just touched upon a truth which undoubtedly had superlative impact upon his emotions, that being the loss of love for Paul on the part of the Corinthians. It was the... read more
2 Corinthians 6:14. Be ye not unequally yoked, &c.— "Be not associates in marriage, in worship, or in any thing with infidels; for what union can there be," &c. See on 2 Corinthians 6:11. read more
14. Be not—Greek, "Become not." unequally yoked—"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Leviticus 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (Deuteronomy 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare Deuteronomy 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also Deuteronomy 7:3- :. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other... read more
C. Appeal for restoration of the Corinthians’ confidence in Paul 6:11-7:16The apostle now turned to a direct appeal for the Corinthians to reconcile with him in their hearts."The call for reconciliation with Paul, therefore, stands in parallel with the call for reconciliation with God [2 Corinthians 5:20]. While it would be too much to say that these two forms of reconciliation are equally important, for Paul they are directly linked with one another." [Note: Beverly R. Gaventa, "Apostle and... read more
Some of the Corinthians were not openhearted toward Paul because they were doing things that they knew he disapproved. This evidently included maintaining inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Other interpretations of the identity of the unbelievers identify them as untrustworthy persons in contrast to Paul, Gentile Christians who did not observe the Mosaic Law, the immoral within the church, and the false apostles. [Note: See William J. Webb, "Who Are the Unbelievers (apistoi) in 2... read more
6:14 diversely (d-3) 'Unequally,' as in A.V., is a consequence, but not stated in the text, which says 'diversely,' referring to the Levitical law, which forbade different animals to be yoked together, Deuteronomy 22:10 . read more
I, 2. Paraphrase. ’Now it is as coöperators with God in this work that we exhort you not to make the grace of God fruitless in your life by continuing in sin. (2) For God has told us in Scripture of a time of grace and of a day of salvation; and this is that blessed time of grace and that day of salvation.’1. Workers together with him] For the idea cp. 1 Corinthians 3:9. In vain] i.e. by an unholy life.2. He (i.e. God) saith] The v. is a parenthesis. The reference is to Isaiah 49:8, God’s words... read more
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.—We seem at first to enter, by an abrupt transition, upon a new line of exhortation. The under-current of thought is, however, not difficult to trace. There was a false latitude as well as a true. The baser party at Corinth might think it a matter of indifference whether they married a heathen or a Christian, whether they chose their intimate friends among the worshippers of Aphrodite or of Christ. Against that “enlargement” the Apostle... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
6:14-7:16 CONCERNING PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCEThe Christian in ungodly society (6:14-7:1)Apparently the Corinthians still misunderstood what Paul was trying to teach them about relationships with unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11). Previously they thought it meant cutting themselves off from unbelievers completely. Now they go to the other extreme and think their relationships can be as close as they like, even to marriage. Not so, says Paul. There must be no permanent and binding relations... read more