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The Temple of the Living God

14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil[a]? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

“I will live in them
    and walk among them.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.[b]
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
    and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
    and I will welcome you.[c]
18 And I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,
    says the Lord Almighty.[d]

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Footnotes

  1. 6:15 Greek Beliar; various other manuscripts render this proper name of the devil as Belian, Beliab, or Belial.
  2. 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27.
  3. 6:17 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34 (Greek version).
  4. 6:18 2 Sam 7:14.

Relating with Unbelievers

14 Stop becoming[a] unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony exists between the Messiah[b] and Beliar,[c] or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? 16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we[d] are the temple of the living God, just as God said:

“I will live and walk among them.
    I will be their God,
        and they will be my people.”[e]

17 Therefore,

“Get away from them
    and separate yourselves from them,”
        declares the Lord,[f]
“and don’t touch anything unclean.
    Then I will welcome you.
18 I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,”
        declares the Lord[g] Almighty.[h]

Cleanse Yourselves in Holiness

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let’s cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Or Don’t become
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Or Christ
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:15 I.e. the devil
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Other mss. read you (pl.)
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:17 MT source citation reads Lord
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:18 MT source citation reads Lord
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:18 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34, 41; 2 Sam 7:8, 14