Author: Christian Nuesa

For: Sojourning Servants Bible Study, GCC Sun Valley CA

Date: 2/7/09

PASSAGE

2Cor. 6:14 ¶ Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness
and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Cor. 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an
unbeliever?
2Cor. 6:16 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.
2Cor. 6:17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the
Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.
2Cor. 6:18 “And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

BACKGROUND

This is a letter to the Corinthian church.

- The church was founded by Paul on his second missionary journey
- He spent a year and a half (1.5 years) ministering there (Acts 18:1,11) before he returned
to Israel.

The City of Corinth

1. It’s an ancient city in a Roman province of Achaia.
2. A prosperous city and a major trade city.
a. How prosperous? They are prosperous enough to be able to host the Isthmian
games. Isthmian game is one of the two most famous athletic events of that day
(the other is the Olympian games). This game causes more people traffic in
Corinth. The more people traffic the better your economy.
3. However, it is also rich in corruption and immorality (1 Cor 6:9)
a. Fornication is rampant,
b. Idolatry is everywhere,
c. Adultery is not a shock
d. Effeminate -- cross dressers, there.
e. Homosexuals -- many
f. Incest is tolerated, and some other common sins such as
g. Thieves
h. Covetous
i. Drunkards,
j. Revilers – tells me that its an unfriendly city.
k. Swindlers.

This church in Corinth was founded in this environment and Corinthian believers lived in this
sinful culture.

This is the reason why they were unable to fully divorce themselves from the culture around
them.

Most believers in Corinth have difficulties separating themselves from their old lives: corruption
and sexual immorality.

In fact some of the worst sins are still found among some church members, such as Incest
(5:1).

Problems in Corinthian Church:

1. Division
2. Carnality
3. Sexual Immaturity
4. Boastful
5. Selfishness
6. Paganism
7. Worldliness

This is the reason why Paul wrote the 1 Corinthians. He wanted to address their issues and to
address their questions to Paul.

AFTER THAT:

Paul received more news (possibly from Timothy), that Corinthians have more problems, and
the arrival of false apostles.

The false apostles were trying to convince people to turn from Paul to them, from Paul’s
teaching to their teaching (false Christ, and false Gospel – 11:4).

In attempt to move people out of Paul’s teaching, they assaulted the character of Paul (Just like
Satan assaulted the character of God to deceive Eve).

So Paul temporarily abandoning the work at Ephesus and went immediately to Corinth.

Paul described this as a painful visit (2:1) and was not successful in Paul’s perspective; for
someone in the Corinthian church openly insulted him (2:5-8, 10; 7:12).

Paul was heart broken from the Corinthian believer’s lack of loyalty. So then he went back to
Ephesus. From Ephesus Paul wrote a “severe letter” to the Corinthians and sent it with Titus
(7:5-16)

When Paul met again with Titus, Titus reported that majority of Corinthians had repented of
their rebellion against Paul (7:7). Well, the letter was severe.

This letter btw, was a lost. We never found any copy of it.

However, even if majority of them repented, there were still rebellions against Paul in
Corinthian church – spread out.

This is the reason why Paul wrote the 2 Corinthians to put an end to this rebellion once for all.

Paul’s main concern on 2 Corinthians is to defend his Apostleship.

So our verse:

2Cor. 6:14 ¶ Do not be bound together with unbelievers,

Is in the context of Paul defending his Apostleship and confronting rebellion against him. [pause]

Near context:
Let us examine the chapter:

2Cor. 6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance,
in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
2Cor. 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
2Cor. 6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
2Cor. 6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right
hand and the left,
2Cor. 6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet
true;
2Cor. 6:9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to
death,
2Cor. 6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet
possessing all things.

Paul is commending himself to the Corinthians as a true apostle or true servants of God.

2Cor. 6:11 ¶ Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
2Cor. 6:12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
2Cor. 6:13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

Paul is asking Corinthians to return a little bit of affection. He’s asking them to respond to his
love.

Then Paul said:

2Cor. 6:14 ¶ Do not be bound together with unbelievers;

So then, do you think Paul gives this command to…

1. Corinthian believers who want to marry a non-believer? NO. This is not the issue in
Corinthian Church.
2. Corinthian believers who are already married to non-believer, and thus asking them to
divorce their unbelieving wives? Of course not at all.
3. Or Did Paul writes this command to Corinthian believers who are in rebellion against
him? YES. Because that’s the concern. [pause]

WHAT DOES THE COMMAND MEAN in this context?

2Cor. 6:14 ¶ Do not be bound together with unbelievers

Bound together – heterozugeo - To come under an unequal or different yoke. In othere words,
to be unequally yoked.

A Yoke is a wooden piece that binds the neck of two animals together. The Yoke is attached to a
plow so that the two animals could pull it together to farm a land.

This is the reason that some bibles render this as unequally yoke.

NASB uses the English word BOUND together (because I guess its easier to understand). Some
other translations use partner together, or do not be miss-matched.

What is Unequally yoke really?

This is not about yoking two animals in different abilities, physical traits, or gender:
For example,

A dog and a bigger dog,

Orr a black cow and a white cow,
Or a male horse and a female horse.

Yes, they are not equal yet they are the same still.
- A dog and a dog
- A cow and a cow
- A horse and a horse

This is not what Paul meant with unequally yoke.

This is in difference kind:

Example, a dog and a cat. They are completely not equal.

Therefore, a dog and a cat have not, cannot, will not be buddies. They are not the same! They
are two different kinds in two different instincts. [pause]

This command is actually drawn from Deut. 22:10:

Deut. 22:10 ¶ “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

Two different animals bounded together used in plowing fields, is not right. Do you think these
animals can work together properly? NO.

So what does Paul mean with the illustration of two different things?

Obviously, believers and non-believers are not actually Martian and Human bounded together.
They are both humans!

So what’s not equal in believers and non-believers?

2Cor. 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away;
behold, new things have come.

A believer is far different from what they were before. Though physically we are the same, but
spiritually different.

One major differences: One is alive spiritually, one is dead spiritually.

So Paul applies the unequally yoke in that; that believers are radically different; new people
with a new heart and new direction in life.

How different believers are from non-believers?

Paul uses 5 illustrations in the form of rhetorical question.

1. V.14, Its like righteousness and lawlessness

a. Partnership, or sharing…
i. This is righteousness according to God’s standard
ii. This righteousness cannot ever share with lawlessness.
iii. To put simply, if you add lawlessness in righteousness, it is not
 righteousness!
iv. James 2:10 – You break one command; you are guilty of all.
v. Point: It is impossible for righteousness and lawlessness to mix.
2. V. 14, Light and darkness
a. Fellowship, or participation
i. Metaphorically
1. Darkness – Is about ignorance on divine things and human
duties, accompanying ungodliness and immorality.
2. Light – is about truth and its knowledge, together with the
spiritual purity.
ii. Can light then have part with darkness? NO. It cannot.
iii. Point: It is impossible for light and darkness to mix.
3. V. 15, Christ and Belial
a. Harmony, or compatibility
i. Belial is a transcript of the Hebrew, meaning worthlessness or
wickedness. Satan in the ancient Hebrew was called Belial.
ii. Jesus Christ who is Holy and perfectly obedient to the Father, can He
agree with worthlessness and wickedness? NO.
iii. This is another impossible mix.
4. V. 16, Believer and unbeliever
a. In common
i. Paul is not particularly referring to a person.
ii. Paul is talking about faith here. [pause]
iii. Ex. The belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, has nothing in
common with the belief that Christ is the brother of Lucifer (I think
Mormons believe that).
iv. Again, these faiths contradicts each other
v. They do not mix.
5. V. 17, Temple of God with idols
a. Agreement
i. God dwells in His temple. Therefore, you cannot put idols in the Temple
of God.
ii. Idols in the Temple of God would only provoke God into anger. How
many times did God judge Israel due to idolatry in His own temple?
iii. God will never be happy with idolatry.
iv. He said “My glory I will not share”

So how different believers are?

Paul said, its like righteouness compared to lawlessness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial,
True faith and false faith; and Temple of God and idolatry.

And indeed, believers are

1. Called righteous, not perfect of course – Is 60:21, Luke 1:6, Romans 7:14-21
2. Light – Matthew 5:14
3. In Christ - 2Cor. 5:17
4. Possesses true faith - John 1:12
5. The living temple of God - 1Cor. 3:16, 2Cor. 6:16
In other words, Believers must not yoke or partner with non-believers because they are
radically different from.
Believers will never walk right if they are unequally yoke with unbelievers. Just like the Ox and
Donkey yoke together for farming. They do not work properly.

Therefore, believers do not mix, should not mix, and must never mix with non-believers.

There is a place for believer, and there is a place of non-believer.

What does Paul want to happen in that command?

So Paul asked five rhetorical questions to assert that Corinthians believers should not be
unequally yoke with unbelievers.

And Paul arrived to a case.

Paul’s command is justified.
Basically Paul is right!

So then if you are a believer and you were yoke with non-believer, it is imperative that you
separate!

That’s what Paul said:

2Cor. 6:17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.

Quotation from Isaiah 52

Is. 52:11 ¶ Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her,
purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Babylonian Captivit, 2 Kings 24

2Kings 24:13 He carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the
treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of
Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, just as the LORD had said.
2Kings 24:14 Then he led away into exile all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty
men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained except
the poorest people of the land.
2Kings 24:20 For through the anger of the LORD this came about in Jerusalem and Judah until
He cast them out from His presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

70 years of captivity, Jeremiah 29

Jer. 29:10 ¶ “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I
will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.
Jer. 29:11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not
for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Assimilation, Daniel 1

3Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his [b]officials, to bring in some of the sons of
Israel, including some of the royal (G)family and of the nobles,

4youths in whom was (H)no defect, who were good-looking, showing (I)intelligence in every
branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability
for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the [c]literature and (J)language
of the (K)Chaldeans.
Forced to paganism, Daniel 3

1Nebuchadnezzar the king made an (A)image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its
width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the (B)province of Babylon.

4Then the herald loudly proclaimed: "To you the command is given, (D)O peoples, nations and
men of every language,

5that at the moment you (E)hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and
all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the
king has set up.

6"But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be (F)cast into the midst of a
(G)furnace of blazing fire."

7Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon,
psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell
down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

Separation from Babylon

When the Jews were allowed to return to their own land.

Ezra 6:21 The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated
themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of
Israel, ate the Passover.

Neh. 10:28 ¶ Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers,
the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands
to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and
understanding,

Repentance

When the Jews returned to their land, it includes separation from the impurity of the nations to
the Law of God.

Since they are separating from the impurity of the nations, tells me that the Jews adapted some
sins common in Babylon while they were living in there.

That’s why when they returned to their land, they also separated from it.

This is separating from sins common in Babylon and turning to the Law of God -- from sinful
acts to righteous acts.

Command to separate includes repentance.

Separation here is none other than: REPENTANCE.

That’s why when God said:

Is. 52:11 ¶ Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her,
purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the LORD.

God is asking them to return to their land and to repent from their sin.
Separation from Babylon includes repentance. [pause]

Corinthian believers = Babylonian Jews

So then Corinthian believers have something in common with the Jews in Babylon. Both, Jews
in Babylon and believers in Corinth practiced the sins of their cities.

Paul commanded repentance

But when Paul quoted Isaiah 52, Paul was not asking Corinthians to leave the city of Corinth.

Paul was asking Corinthians to separate from the culture around them. Just like the Babylonian
Jews who separated from the Babylonian culture.

Paul here was asking Corinthians to repent from their sins and stay away from the sins of their
city.

What are the things Corinthians should repent from?

Just like Corinth City, the Corinthian Church is also corrupt and immoral (as I already mentioned)

1. Division in the church, 1 Cor 1:12

2. Immature acts, 1 Cor 3:1
3. Fleshly behaviors, 1 Cor 3:3
4. Boastful, 1 Cor 4:7
5. Arrogant, 1 Cor 4:18
6. Sexual Immorality, 1 Cor 5:1
7. Covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler, 1 Cor 5:11
8. Lawsuits against another brother [that’s hate], 1 Cor 6:6
9. Confusion about marriage, singleness, divorce, 1 Cor 7
10. They cause other believers to stumble, 1 Cor 8
11. They were unloving people, that’s why Paul teaches them love. 1 Cor 13

12. Now, the greatest and the latest, some Corinthian believers JOINED the false
apostles and turned against Paul: their own pastor.

The issue:

It is this Church that Paul said “Do not be unequally yoke with unbelievers”.

Surely what is in the mind of Paul is the sinful culture around them but also in particular, those
people who has joined false apostle in their attack of Paul.

Therefore the Corinthian believers are already in the state of being unequally yoke with
unbelievers.

The Corinthians believers were unequally yoke with unbelievers because of their participation of
the sinful culture around them and joining with false apostle in slandering Paul.

The Corinthian Church walked in the counsel of the wicked, they stand in the path of sinners, they
sit in the seat of scoffers.

That’s why Paul said:

Do not do that!
Stop being unequally yoke!
Leave it behind you!

Just like the Babylonian Jews, Corinthians should SEPARATE from their own Babylon!

REBUKE

And just like the Jews in Babylon, the believers in Corinth, we are also living in our own version
of “Babylon”: the United States of America. Sad to say.

Sins in America:
1. Materialism, love money, greed
2. Idolatry: Earth has been made false goddess here. And they named her Mother Earth.
a. So don’t hurt the trees, be kind to chickens… let us protect the animals, but let
abortion go on.
3. Sexual Immorality: We are not that different with Corinthians in this sin.
4. Homosexuality
5. Mind your own business and I’ll mind mine mentality: This is a sin of hatred.
Because Love is putting the welfare of other people first. Not to put the welfare of others,
to not care at all, is hate.
6. Gluttony
7. Image – Worship of self
8. Status, pride – Gotta keep up with the Jones.
9. Entertainment – More pleasurable than God.
10. Psychology – Trusting Dr. Phil than the word of God.
11. America loves to drink a lot and drive drunk – Well, you as long as I don’t get drunk, I
can drink! Drinking’s allowed in the bible you know. Well drinking was not worldly in the
bible. We live in a society were worldiness, involves drinking because of the abuse of
it and its destructive effect to the society.
12. Smoking – I’m not smoking cigarette which is addictive! Just Cuban Tobacco. Tobacco
is not addictive.

Are we separate from the culture around us or are we part of it? [pause]

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward
God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

So, are you separate from the culture around, or do you need to separate?

2Cor. 6:17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord.
“AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.

Do you wanna see a separation in the bible?

Psa. 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in
the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Psa. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Christ was known to be friends with sinners.

He loved them
He ate with them
He worked with them as a carpenter
He even cared for them
He told them the gospel
Yet he remained separate from sinners (for he never once participated in their actions). Luke
15:2

So we are to be IN United States of America but SEPARATE America – Cref. John 17:14-15