2 Corinthians 6:14-16

2 Corinthians 6:14-16

[14] Be ye  not  unequally yoked together  with unbelievers:  for  what  fellowship  hath righteousness  with  unrighteousness?  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  the temple  of the living  God;  as  God  hath said,  I will dwell  in  them,  and  walk in  them; and  their  God,  and  they  people. 

What does 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Some of the Corinthians were not openhearted toward Paul because they were doing things that they knew he disapproved. This evidently included maintaining inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Other interpretations of the identity of the unbelievers identify them as untrustworthy persons in contrast to Paul, Gentile Christians who did not observe the Mosaic Law, the immoral within the church, and the false apostles. [1]
Paul was not saying that Christians should break off all association with unbelievers (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:27). He had previously encouraged the saved partner in a mixed marriage to maintain the marriage relationship as long as possible ( 1 Corinthians 7:12-16). He had also urged his fellow Christians as ambassadors of Christ to evangelize the lost ( 2 Corinthians 5:20). Rather Paul commanded that Christians form no binding interpersonal relationships with non-Christians that resulted in their spiritual defilement. This is an extension to human beings of the principle underlying the prohibition against breeding or yoking an ox and a donkey together in Leviticus 19:19 and Deuteronomy 22:10. Such alliances can prevent the Christian from living a consistently obedient Christian life. The fulfillment of God"s will must be primary for a believer. Obviously some relationships with pagans do not pose a threat to our faithfulness to God. Where they do the Christian must maintain his or her relationship with Christ even it if means forfeiting relationship with unbelievers. There is a conceptual parallel here with what Jesus ( Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25), Paul ( Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-2), and Peter ( 1 Peter 2:13-17) taught about the believer"s relationships with God and the state. We should obey both authorities unless they conflict, in which case we must obey God.
"Urban Roman colonies understood quite well the custom that one could not be friends with a friend"s or patron"s enemies." [2]
Paul set forth the folly of such behavior by pointing out five contrasts. Each one expects a negative answer. All of them point out the incompatibility and incongruity of Christian discipleship and heathenism. Paul supported the last of these with quotations from the Old Testament ( 2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
Christians should follow God"s will that results in righteous behavior, but pagans have no regard for God"s laws. Christians are children of the light, but unbelievers are children of darkness (cf. Colossians 1:13). Beliel ( 2 Corinthians 6:15) is the personification of evil (cf. Deuteronomy 13:13; 2 Samuel 22:5-6), and he is the antithesis of Christ. Beliel was a recognized name for Satan in Paul"s day. [3] It may have come from combining the Hebrew word for "worthlessness" with the name of the pagan god Baal. [4] Believers have little in common with unbelievers when it comes to things that are peculiar to unbelievers. Obviously we share many things, such as food, clothing, houses, sun, air, and rain. Christians who are temples of the living God are quite different from the heathen who worship idols in temples made with hands. [5]