2 Corinthians 6:11-18

11: Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
12: You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
13: Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

14: Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15: Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16: Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
17: “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
18: “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

*** 

Paul appealed to the Corinthians here saying his heart was opened wide toward them. He was not holding back anything. He was not restricting their access to him. Any restriction they felt was from them toward him not the other way around. He asked for a return of his love which he had toward them, like a child returning his parent’s love.

Paul then called for them not to be bound together with unbelievers. Other translations say, “unequally yoked.” This concept was described in Leviticus 19:19 to not breed two different kinds of cattle, and in Deuteronomy 22:10 not to plow an ox and a donkey together. It’s an unequal yoke. In the same way, a believer marrying (or forming some other type of relationship such as business or friendship) an unbeliever is binding the believer to an unequal partnership—righteousness with lawlessness. Light with dark. Christ with Belial. The temple of God with idols.

Paul reminded them that they were the temple of God as he quoted Old Testament Scripture. He said God desired to walk among them and be their God (Exodus 29:45), so to come out from among the unbelievers and separate themselves, not to touch what is unclean (Isaiah 52:11), and God would be a father to them, and they would be His children (2 Samuel 7:14). What a beautiful promise!

Paul pleaded with the Corinthians, not so much because he was concerned about experiencing rejection himself, but his message. He didn’t want them to reject his teaching, the gospel. His motive was a pure, fatherly love. He confirmed his status as a true apostle so his message of truth might remain alive in them.




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