2Corinthians 6:14-16 Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
‘Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.’ This is a military term – keep your own ranks; do not leave Christians and join with unbelievers – for any gathering (1Cor. 5:9-13; 1Jn. 2:15-17; 2Jn.1:9-11). It indicates that some Corinthians were joining with the heathen in idolatrous feasts and other practices that would lead to apostasy (1Cor. 8:3-13; 10:16-33).
‘For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?’ The answer to these questions is clear. Righteousness cannot mix with lawlessness; light can have no communion with darkness; Christ and Belial can not be of one accord; a believer cannot have part with an unbeliever, and there can be no agreement of the temple of God with idols. Forty Scriptures warn against having fellowship with certain people, of which this is one.
‘Belial’ – another name of satan. It is the equivalent of the Hebrew: beliya‛al, without profit, worthlessness, wickedness (Deut. 13:13; Jdg. 19:22; 20:13; 1Sam. 1:16; 2:12; 10:27; 25:17, 25:25; 30:22; 2Sam. 16:7; 20:1; 23:6; 1Kin. 21:10, 21:13; 2Chron. 13:7). In every reference in the Old Testament, it is used of evil people being sons of Belial in the same sense the New Testament speaks of them being children of the wicked one and of the devil (Matt. 13:38; Acts 13:10; 1Jn. 3:10).
‘You are the temple of the living God. Our bodies are the vessels through which the gospel must be manifested and we cannot use it for self-gain or to sin and serve satan in the process (1Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2Cor. 6:16).
‘Said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people’ this is the 2nd Old Testament prophecy (Lev. 26:12) fulfilled here as God made them (the Israelites who wanted to follow Him) His people. During the New Testament, it became clear that the Gentiles were always part of this program of God (Acts 15:12-20; Rom. 11:25).
Living the Word 