Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with disorder? What communion has light with darkness?
6:14 — “Do not unite… unbelievers.” (Compare Lev 19:19; Deu 22:9-11). Staying within the context (as one should always do), I conclude that here Paul exhorts the Corinthians not to fellowship with unbelievers who hindered the local church; that is, with the Judaizers. It is clear that his prohibition extended to all unbelievers. The subject in this portion of his letter is not marriage. (That is covered extensively in 1Co 7:1-40). Paul is not saying that the Christian is forbidden to marry a non-Christian (unbeliever). If I said that, it would contradict Christ’s law on divorce, because Christ allows divorce only because of fornication. But here Paul says, “Come out from among them” (ver. 17), and if he were to talk about marriage, the Christian married to a non-Christian would have to get out of that marriage relationship, and it would not be because of fornication. There are those who refer to marriage as “yoke”, and because the word “yoke” is used in this passage, it follows that it is marriage. But the Bible does not speak of marriage with that term, or figure. Of course it is not wise for a Christian to marry a non-Christian, and it is true that many have been lost because of it, but this passage does not forbid doing so. Paul goes on to speak of unequal yokes, and it is interesting to note the different words with which he expresses the idea of communion (fellowship, concord, part, agreement). Now five rhetorical questions follow, implying the answer of “none”, or “none”. — “because what… injustice?” This is the reason why the Christian cannot be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Justice and injustice are not partners! Apparently some in Corinth thought that they could be companions, since they put up with the case of incest in the church (1Co 5:1-13). — “And what communion… darkness?” Light and darkness do not mix; Either one dominates, or the other dominates. Compare Ac 26:28; Eph 5:8; Eph 5:11; Col 1:13; 1Thess 5:5; 1Pe 2:9. God is light (1Jn 1:5); claiming to have communion with God, and at the same time walking in darkness, is equivalent to lying! (v. 6). That’s why, James 1:21-22.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
Do not be unequally yoked. Exo 34:16; Lev 19:19; Deu 7:2, Deu 7:3; Deu 22:9-11; Ezra 9:1, Ezra 9:2, Ezra 9:11, Ezra 9:12; Ezra 10:19; Neh 13:1-3, Neh 13:23-26; Salt 106:35; pro 22:24; bad 2:11, bad 2:15; 1Co 5:9; 1Co 7:39; 1Co 15:33; Jas 4:4.
for what fellowship has justice with injustice? 1Sa 5:2, 1Sa 5:3; 1Ki 18:21; 2Ch 19:2; Ps 16:3; Ps 26:4, Ps 26:5, Ps 26:9, Salt 26:10; Ps 44:20, Ps 44:21; Ps 101:3-5; Ps 119:63; Ps 139:21, Ps 139:22; pro 29:27; Joh 7:7; Joh 15:18, Joh 15:19; Ac 4:23; 1Co 10:21; Eph 5:6-11; 1Jn 3:12-14.
And what communion has light with darkness? Pro 8:18, Pro 8:19; Romans 13:12-14; Eph 4:17-20; Eph 5:8-14; Phil 2:15; 1Thess 5:4-8; 1Pe 2:9, 1Pe 2:10; 1Pe 4:2-4; 1Jn 1:5-7.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
unequally yoked: Paul used the “yoke” of (Deu 22:10), where the Israelites were told not to put together an ox and a donkey. The ox was a clean animal but the donkey was not.Deu 14:1-8). Furthermore, from a practical point of view, the two animals had different working styles and different natures. Relating it to Corinth, the story reveals that the Corinthians were notorious for their associations. They had corporations, partnerships, or associations for practically everything. Each society had its own idol or patron deity. Failing to obey this idol would enrage the god and bring his wrath, which would destroy society. In this way, the Corinthians tried to get along with this idol even though they did not believe in it. Evidently, the Corinthians closed the door of their hearts to Paul (vv. 2Co 6:11, 2Co 6:13) and developed a dangerous affection for the false apostles (2Co 11:4, 2Co 11:13; Pro 4:23).
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
DO NOT JOIN… WITH THE UNBELIEVERS. Before God people are divided into two essential categories: those who are in Christ and those who are not (vv. 2Co 6:14-16; see ARTICLE THREE CLASSES OF PERSONS, P. 1614. ). Therefore, believers should not voluntarily associate or be in intimate association with unbelievers, because such relationships can spoil their relationship with Christ. That includes partnership in business, secret orders (lodges), dating, marriage, and close friendships. The association of believers with unbelievers should be limited to what is necessary for social and economic coexistence, or to show unbelievers the way of salvation (see ARTICLE THE SPIRITUAL SEPARATION OF BELIEVERS, P. 1654. ).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
be unequally yoked. An illustration taken from Israel’s prohibitions in the OT regarding the uniting of two different types of livestock for agricultural work (see note on Deu 22:10). With this analogy, Paul taught that it is wrong to join in common spiritual initiatives with those who are not of the same nature (unbelievers). It is impossible for all things to be done to the glory of God in such a situation. with the unbelievers. Christians are not to associate with non-Christians in any business or relationship that is detrimental to Christian witness within the Body of Christ (see notes on 1Co 5:9-13; zip 1Co 6:15-18; 1Co 10:7-21; Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15). This was especially important to the Corinthians because of the threats of false teachers and the pagan idolatry that surrounded them. This command does not mean that believers must end all their associations with unbelievers, because this would defeat the purpose for which God saved believers and left them on earth (cf. Matt 28:19-20; 1Co 9:19-23). It is clear from vv. 2Co 6:14 b 2Co 6:17 that such religious alliances are impracticable.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
6:14 — “Do not unite… unbelievers.” (Compare Lev 19:19; Deu 22:9-11). Staying within the context (as one should always do), I conclude that here Paul exhorts the Corinthians not to fellowship with unbelievers who hindered the local church; that is, with the Judaizers. It is clear that his prohibition extended to all unbelievers.
The subject in this portion of your letter is not marriage. (That one is covered extensively in 1Co 7:1-40). Paul is not saying that the Christian is forbidden to marry a non-Christian (unbeliever). If I said that, it would contradict Christ’s law on divorce, because Christ allows divorce only because of fornication. But here Paul says, “Come out from among them” (v. 17), and if he were to speak of marriage, the Christian married to a non-Christian would have to come out of that marriage relationship, and it would not be because of fornication.
There are those who refer to marriage as “yoke”, and because the word “yoke” is used in this passage, it follows that it is marriage. But the Bible does not speak of marriage with that term, or figure.
Of course it is not wise for a Christian to marry a non-Christian, and it is true that many have been lost because of it, but this passage does not forbid doing so.
Paul goes on to speak of unequal yokes, and it is interesting to note the different words with which he expresses the idea of communion (fellowship, concord, part, agreement).
Now five rhetorical questions follow, implying the answer of “none”, or “none”.
–“Because what… injustice?” This is the reason why the Christian cannot be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Justice and injustice are not partners! Apparently some in Corinth thought that they could be companions, since they put up with the case of incest in the church (1Co 5:1-13).
– “And what communion… darkness?” Light and darkness do not mix; Either one dominates, or the other dominates. Compare Acts 26:28; Eph 5:8; Eph 5:11; Col 1:13; 1Thess 5:5; 1Pe 2:9. God is light (1Jn 1:5); claiming to have communion with God, and at the same time walking in darkness, is equivalent to lying! (v.6). Therefore, Jas 1:21-22.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE
2 Corinthians 6:14 – 2Co 7:1
Do not allow yourselves to be yoked to an unequal yoke with non-believers. What camaraderie can there be between integrity and illegality? And what association between darkness and light? And what concord between Christ and Belial? How can the believer and the unbeliever go halfway? What covenant can there be between the temple of God and idols?
Because you are the temple of the living God, as He Himself has said: “I will dwell in them and I will move in them, and I will be their God and they will be My people. ” -So “Go out and separate yourselves from them”, says the Lord, “and have no contact with impure things, and I will receive you and be a Father to you, and you will be like My sons and daughters,” says the Lord , who rules the universe.
So, since we have such promises, let us purify ourselves from all contamination of flesh or spirit, and maintain complete holiness in the fear of God.
We now come to the passage we skipped earlier. There is no doubt that it does not fit properly where it is. The seriousness of its tone is at odds with the joyful love of the verses that precede and follow it.
We already saw in the Introduction (page 22) that Paul had written an earlier letter to 1″ Corinthians. In 1Co 5:9 says: “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral people.” That letter may have been lost; but this passage may have been part of it. Perhaps, when Paul’s letters were collected, a sheet was out of place for him. That didn’t happen until around AD 90, and by then the original order may not have been known to anyone anymore. In essence, this passage seems to agree with the theme of the letter mentioned in 1Co 5:9 .
There are some Old Testament figures behind this passage. Paul begins by exhorting the Corinthians not to join unbelievers in strange yokes. No doubt there is here a reflection of the ancient commandment of Deut 22:10 : “You shall not plow together with an ox and a donkey” (cp. Lev 19:19 ). The idea is that there are certain things that are incompatible by nature and cannot be profitably associated. It is impossible for Christian purity and pagan immorality to form a team together.
In the question, “What covenant can there be between the temple of God and idols?” Paul’s thought goes back to incidents such as Manasseh bringing a molten image to the temple of God. (2Ki 21:1-9 ), or, at a later time, Josiah destroying such things (2Ki 23:3 H.H). Or you may be thinking of the abominations described in Ez 8:3-18 . At times attempts had been made to associate the temple of God with the worship of idols, and the consequences had always been dire.
The entire passage is a wake-up call not to have relationships with unbelievers. It is a challenge to the Corinthian Christians to beware of the contaminations of the world. It has been noted that the very essence of…