Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(A) with unbelievers.(B) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(C) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(D) Or what does a believer(E) have in common with an unbeliever?(F) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(G) For we are the temple(H) of the living God.(I) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[b](J)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(K)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[c](L)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(M)
says the Lord Almighty.”[d](N)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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14 (A)Do not be [a]mismatched with (B)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness (C)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what (D)harmony does Christ have with [b]Belial, or [c]what does a (E)believer share with an (F)unbeliever? 16 Or (G)what agreement does [d]the temple of God have with idols? For we are [e](H)the temple of (I)the living God; just as God said,

(J)I will (K)dwell among them and (L)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 (M)Therefore, (N)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 (O)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (P)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Lit unevenly yoked
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Gr Beliar; a name of the devil and the antichrist
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple

14 Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said:

I will dwell among them and walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.(A)
17 
“So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,
And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],(B)
18 
And I will be a Father to you,
And you will be My sons and daughters,”
Says the Lord Almighty.(C)

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14-18 Don’t become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That’s not partnership; that’s war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God’s holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

“I’ll live in them, move into them;
    I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people.
So leave the corruption and compromise;
    leave it for good,” says God.
“Don’t link up with those who will pollute you.
    I want you all for myself.
I’ll be a Father to you;
    you’ll be sons and daughters to me.”
The Word of the Master, God.

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