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The Temple of the Living God

14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion has light with darkness? 15 What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live in them
    and walk in them.
I will be their God,
    and they shall be My people.”[a]

17 Therefore,

“Come out from among them
    and be separate,
        says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
    and I will receive you.”[b]

18 “I will be a Father to you,
    and you shall be My sons and daughters,
        says the Lord Almighty.”[c]

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked with Unbelievers

14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said,

“I will live in[a] them and will walk about among them,
and I will be their God and they will be my people.”[b]
17 Therefore “come out from their midst
and be separate,” says the Lord,
“and do not touch what is unclean,[c]
and I will welcome you,[d]
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you will be sons and daughters to me,”[e]
says the all-powerful Lord.

Paul’s Joy at the Corinthians’ Repentance

Therefore since we[f] have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, accomplishing holiness in the fear of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or “with”
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 A quotation from Lev 26:12 (also similar to Jer 32:38, Ezek 37:27)
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 A quotation from Isa 52:11
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:17 A paraphrased quotation from Ezek 20:41
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:18 A paraphrased quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 and Isa 43:6
  6. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Here “since” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have”) which is understood as causal