14 Be ye G1096 not G3361 unequally yoked together G2086 with unbelievers: G571 for G1063 what G5101 fellowship G3352 hath righteousness G1343 with G2532 unrighteousness? G458 and G1161 what G5101 communion G2842 hath light G5457 with G4314 darkness? G4655
Be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 evil G2556 communications G3657 corrupt G5351 good G5543 manners. G2239
Let G538 no man G3367 deceive G538 you G5209 with vain G2756 words: G3056 for G1063 because G1223 of these things G5023 cometh G2064 the wrath G3709 of God G2316 upon G1909 the children G5207 of disobedience. G543 Be G1096 not G3361 ye G1096 therefore G3767 partakers G4830 with them. G846 For G1063 ye were G2258 sometimes G4218 darkness, G4655 but G1161 now G3568 are ye light G5457 in G1722 the Lord: G2962 walk G4043 as G5613 children G5043 of light: G5457 (For G1063 the fruit G2590 of the Spirit G4151 is in G1722 all G3956 goodness G19 and G2532 righteousness G1343 and G2532 truth;) G225 Proving G1381 what G5101 is G2076 acceptable G2101 unto the Lord. G2962 And G2532 have G4790 no G3361 fellowship G4790 with the unfruitful G175 works G2041 of darkness, G4655 but G1161 rather G3123 G2532 reprove G1651 them. For G1063 it is G2076 a shame G149 even G2532 to speak G3004 of those things G2931 which are done G1096 of G5259 them G846 in secret. G2931 But G1161 all things G3956 that are reproved G1651 are made manifest G5319 by G5259 the light: G5457 for G1063 whatsoever G3956 doth make manifest G5319 is G2076 light. G5457 Wherefore G1352 he saith, G3004 Awake thou G1453 that sleepest, G2518 and G2532 arise G450 from G1537 the dead, G3498 and G2532 Christ G5547 shall give G2017 thee G4671 light. G2017
Ye adulterers G3432 and G2532 adulteresses, G3428 know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 the friendship G5373 of the world G2889 is G2076 enmity G2189 with God? G2316 whosoever G3739 G302 therefore G3767 will be G1511 G1014 a friend G5384 of the world G2889 is G2525 the enemy G2190 of God. G2316
Thou shalt not sow H2232 thy vineyard H3754 with divers seeds: H3610 lest the fruit H4395 of thy seed H2233 which thou hast sown, H2232 and the fruit H8393 of thy vineyard, H3754 be defiled. H6942 Thou shalt not plow H2790 with an ox H7794 and an ass H2543 together. H3162 Thou shalt not wear H3847 a garment of divers sorts, H8162 as of woollen H6785 and linen H6593 together. H3162
But G1161 ye G5210 are a chosen G1588 generation, G1085 a royal G934 priesthood, G2406 an holy G40 nation, G1484 a peculiar G1519 G4047 people; G2992 that G3704 ye should shew forth G1804 the praises G703 of him who hath called G2564 you G5209 out of G1537 darkness G4655 into G1519 his G846 marvellous G2298 light: G5457 Which G3588 in time past G4218 were not G3756 a people, G2992 but G1161 are now G3568 the people G2992 of God: G2316 which G3588 had G1653 not G3756 obtained mercy, G1653 but G1161 now G3568 have obtained mercy. G1653
But G1161 ye, G5210 brethren, G80 are G2075 not G3756 in G1722 darkness, G4655 that G2443 that day G2250 should overtake G2638 you G5209 as G5613 a thief. G2812 Ye G5210 are G2075 all G3956 the children G5207 of light, G5457 and G2532 the children G5207 of the day: G2250 we are G2070 not G3756 of the night, G3571 nor G3761 of darkness. G4655 Therefore G686 G3767 let us G2518 not G3361 sleep, G2518 as G5613 G2532 do others; G3062 but G235 let us watch G1127 and G2532 be sober. G3525 For G1063 they that sleep G2518 sleep G2518 in the night; G3571 and G2532 they that be drunken G3182 are drunken G3184 in the night. G3571 But G1161 let G3525 us, G2249 who are G5607 of the day, G2250 be sober, G3525 putting on G1746 the breastplate G2382 of faith G4102 and G2532 love; G26 and G2532 for an helmet, G4030 the hope G1680 of salvation. G4991
Do not I hate H8130 them, O LORD, H3068 that hate H8130 thee? and am not I grieved H6962 with those that rise up H8618 against thee? I hate H8130 them with perfect H8503 hatred: H8135 I count them mine enemies. H341
And Elijah H452 came H5066 unto all the people, H5971 and said, H559 How long H5921 halt H6452 ye between two H8147 opinions? H5587 if the LORD H3068 be God, H430 follow him: but if Baal, H1168 then follow H3212 H310 him. And the people H5971 answered H6030 him not a word. H1697
I have not sat H3427 with vain H7723 persons, H4962 neither will I go in H935 with dissemblers. H5956 I have hated H8130 the congregation H6951 of evil doers; H7489 and will not sit H3427 with the wicked. H7563
Which thou hast commanded H6680 by H3027 thy servants H5650 the prophets, H5030 saying, H559 The land, H776 unto which ye go H935 to possess H3423 it, is an unclean H5079 land H776 with the filthiness H5079 of the people H5971 of the lands, H776 with their abominations, H8441 which have filled H4390 it from one end H6310 to another H6310 with their uncleanness. H2932 Now therefore give H5414 not your daughters H1323 unto their sons, H1121 neither take H5375 their daughters H1323 unto your sons, H1121 nor seek H1875 their peace H7965 or their wealth H2896 for H5704 ever: H5769 that ye may be strong, H2388 and eat H398 the good H2898 of the land, H776 and leave it for an inheritance H3423 to your children H1121 for ever. H5769
Judah H3063 hath dealt treacherously, H898 and an abomination H8441 is committed H6213 in Israel H3478 and in Jerusalem; H3389 for Judah H3063 hath profaned H2490 the holiness H6944 of the LORD H3068 which he loved, H157 and hath married H1166 the daughter H1323 of a strange H5236 god. H410
This G5124 I say G3004 therefore, G3767 and G2532 testify G3143 in G1722 the Lord, G2962 that ye G5209 henceforth G3371 walk G4043 not G3371 as G2531 G2532 other G3062 Gentiles G1484 walk, G4043 in G1722 the vanity G3153 of their G846 mind, G3563 Having the understanding G1271 darkened, G4654 being G5607 alienated G526 from the life G2222 of God G2316 through G1223 the ignorance G52 that is G5607 in G1722 them, G846 because G1223 of the blindness G4457 of their G846 heart: G2588 Who G3748 being past feeling G524 have given G3860 themselves G1438 over G3860 unto lasciviousness, G766 to G1519 work G2039 all G3956 uncleanness G167 with G1722 greediness. G4124 But G1161 ye G5210 have G3129 not G3756 so G3779 learned G3129 Christ; G5547
That G1519 he G980 no longer G3371 should live G980 the rest G1954 of his time G5550 in G1722 the flesh G4561 to the lusts G1939 of men, G444 but G235 to the will G2307 of God. G2316 For G1063 the time G5550 past G3928 of our life G979 may suffice G713 us G2254 to have wrought G2716 the will G2307 of the Gentiles, G1484 when we walked G4198 in G1722 lasciviousness, G766 lusts, G1939 excess of wine, G3632 revellings, G2970 banquetings, G4224 and G2532 abominable G111 idolatries: G1495 Wherein G1722 G3739 they think it strange G3579 that ye G5216 run G4936 not G3361 with them to G1519 the same G846 excess G401 of riot, G810 speaking evil of G987 you:
That G2443 ye may be G1096 blameless G273 and G2532 harmless, G185 the sons G5043 of God, G2316 without rebuke, G298 in G1722 the midst G3319 of a crooked G4646 and G2532 perverse G1294 nation, G1074 among G1722 whom G3739 ye shine G5316 as G5613 lights G5458 in G1722 the world; G2889
The wife G1135 is bound G1210 by the law G3551 G1909 as long G5550 as G3745 her G846 husband G435 liveth; G2198 but G1161 if G1437 her G846 husband G435 be dead, G2837 she is G2076 at liberty G1658 to be married G1060 to whom G3739 she will; G2309 only G3440 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
I wrote G1125 unto you G5213 in G1722 an epistle G1992 not G3361 to company G4874 with fornicators: G4205
The night G3571 is far spent, G4298 G1161 the day G2250 is at hand: G1448 let us G659 therefore G3767 cast off G659 the works G2041 of darkness, G4655 and G2532 let us put on G1746 the armour G3696 of light. G5457 Let us walk G4043 honestly, G2156 as G5613 in G1722 the day; G2250 not G3361 in rioting G2970 and G2532 drunkenness, G3178 not G3361 in chambering G2845 and G2532 wantonness, G766 not G3361 in strife G2054 and G2532 envying. G2205 But G235 put ye on G1746 the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 and G2532 make G4160 not G3361 provision G4307 for G1519 the flesh, G4561 to fulfil the lusts G1939 thereof.
And G1161 being let go, G630 they went G2064 to G4314 their own company, G2398 and G2532 reported G518 all G3745 that the chief priests G749 and G2532 elders G4245 had said G2036 unto G4314 them. G846
If G1487 the world G2889 hate G3404 you, G5209 ye know G1097 that G3754 it hated G3404 me G1691 before G4412 it hated you. G5216 If G1487 ye were G2258 of G1537 the world, G2889 the world G2889 would G302 love G5368 his own: G2398 but G1161 because G3754 ye are G2075 not G3756 of G1537 the world, G2889 but G235 I G1473 have chosen G1586 you G5209 out of G1537 the world, G2889 therefore G5124 G1223 the world G2889 hateth G3404 you. G5209
And did not he make H6213 one? H259 Yet had he the residue H7605 of the spirit. H7307 And wherefore one? H259 That he might seek H1245 a godly H430 seed. H2233 Therefore take heed H8104 to your spirit, H7307 and let none deal treacherously H898 against the wife H802 of his youth. H5271
I am a companion H2270 of all them that fear H3372 thee, and of them that keep H8104 thy precepts. H6490
Ye shall keep H8104 my statutes. H2708 Thou shalt not let thy cattle H929 gender H7250 with a diverse kind: H3610 thou shalt not sow H2232 thy field H7704 with mingled seed: H3610 neither shall a garment H899 mingled H3610 of linen and woollen H8162 come H5927 upon thee.
And when the LORD H3068 thy God H430 shall deliver H5414 them before H6440 thee; thou shalt smite H5221 them, and utterly H2763 destroy H2763 them; thou shalt make H3772 no covenant H1285 with them, nor shew mercy H2603 unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages H2859 with them; thy daughter H1323 thou shalt not give H5414 unto his son, H1121 nor his daughter H1323 shalt thou take H3947 unto thy son. H1121
When the Philistines H6430 took H3947 the ark H727 of God, H430 they brought H935 it into the house H1004 of Dagon, H1712 and set H3322 it by H681 Dagon. H1712 And when they of Ashdod H796 arose early H7925 on the morrow, H4283 behold, Dagon H1712 was fallen H5307 upon his face H6440 to the earth H776 before H6440 the ark H727 of the LORD. H3068 And they took H3947 Dagon, H1712 and set H7725 him in his place H4725 again. H7725
And they gave H5414 their hands H3027 that they would put away H3318 their wives; H802 and being guilty, H818 they offered a ram H352 of the flock H6629 for their trespass. H819
In those days H3117 also saw H7200 I Jews H3064 that had married H3427 wives H802 of Ashdod, H796 of Ammon, H5984 and of Moab: H4125 And their children H1121 spake H1696 half H2677 in the speech of Ashdod, H797 and could H5234 not speak H1696 in the Jews' language, H3066 but according to the language H3956 of each H5971 people. H5971 And I contended H7378 with them, and cursed H7043 them, and smote H5221 certain H582 of them, and plucked off their hair, H4803 and made them swear H7650 by God, H430 saying, Ye shall not give H5414 your daughters H1323 unto their sons, H1121 nor take H5375 their daughters H1323 unto your sons, H1121 or for yourselves. Did not Solomon H8010 king H4428 of Israel H3478 sin H2398 by these things? yet among many H7227 nations H1471 was there no king H4428 like him, who was beloved H157 of his God, H430 and God H430 made H5414 him king H4428 over all Israel: H3478 nevertheless even him H1571 did outlandish H5237 women H802 cause to sin. H2398
Gather H622 not my soul H5315 with sinners, H2400 nor my life H2416 with bloody H1818 men: H582 In whose hands H3027 is mischief, H2154 and their right hand H3225 is full H4390 of bribes. H7810
Not G3756 as G2531 Cain, G2535 who was G2258 of G1537 that wicked one, G4190 and G2532 slew G4969 his G846 brother. G80 And G2532 wherefore G5484 G5101 slew G4969 he him? G846 Because G3754 his own G846 works G2041 were G2258 evil, G4190 and G1161 his G846 brother's G80 righteous. G1342 Marvel G2296 not, G3361 my G3450 brethren, G80 if G1487 the world G2889 hate G3404 you. G5209 We know G1492 that G3754 we G2249 have passed G3327 from G1537 death G2288 unto G1519 life, G2222 because G3754 we love G25 the brethren. G80 He that loveth G25 not G3361 his brother G80 abideth G3306 in G1722 death. G2288
This G3778 then G2532 is G2076 the message G1860 which G3739 we have heard G191 of G575 him, G846 and G2532 declare G312 unto you, G5213 that G3754 God G2316 is G2076 light, G5457 and G2532 in G1722 him G846 is G2076 no G3756 darkness G4653 at all. G3762 If G1437 we say G2036 that G3754 we have G2192 fellowship G2842 with G3326 him, G846 and G2532 walk G4043 in G1722 darkness, G4655 we lie, G5574 and G2532 do G4160 not G3756 the truth: G225 But G1161 if G1437 we walk G4043 in G1722 the light, G5457 as G5613 he G846 is G2076 in G1722 the light, G5457 we have G2192 fellowship G2842 one with another, G3326 G240 and G2532 the blood G129 of Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 his G846 Son G5207 cleanseth G2511 us G2248 from G575 all G3956 sin. G266
Riches H6239 and honour H3519 are with me; yea, durable H6276 riches H1952 and righteousness. H6666 My fruit H6529 is better H2896 than gold, H2742 yea, than fine gold; H6337 and my revenue H8393 than choice H977 silver. H3701
But were mingled H6148 among the heathen, H1471 and learned H3925 their works. H4639
I will set H7896 no wicked H1100 thing H1697 before mine eyes: H5869 I hate H8130 the work H6213 of them that turn aside; H7750 it shall not cleave H1692 to me. A froward H6141 heart H3824 shall depart H5493 from me: I will not know H3045 a wicked H7451 person. Whoso privily H5643 slandereth H3960 H3960 his neighbour, H7453 him will I cut off: H6789 him that hath an high H1362 look H5869 and a proud H7342 heart H3824 will not I suffer. H3201
On that day H3117 they read H7121 in the book H5612 of Moses H4872 in the audience H241 of the people; H5971 and therein was found H4672 written, H3789 that the Ammonite H5984 and the Moabite H4125 should not come H935 into the congregation H6951 of God H430 for H5704 ever; H5769 Because they met H6923 not the children H1121 of Israel H3478 with bread H3899 and with water, H4325 but hired H7936 Balaam H1109 against them, that he should curse H7043 them: howbeit our God H430 turned H2015 the curse H7045 into a blessing. H1293 Now it came to pass, when they had heard H8085 the law, H8451 that they separated H914 from Israel H3478 all the mixed multitude. H6154
Now when these things were done, H3615 the princes H8269 came H5066 to me, saying, H559 The people H5971 of Israel, H3478 and the priests, H3548 and the Levites, H3881 have not separated H914 themselves from the people H5971 of the lands, H776 doing according to their abominations, H8441 even of the Canaanites, H3669 the Hittites, H2850 the Perizzites, H6522 the Jebusites, H2983 the Ammonites, H5984 the Moabites, H4125 the Egyptians, H4713 and the Amorites. H567 For they have taken H5375 of their daughters H1323 for themselves, and for their sons: H1121 so that the holy H6944 seed H2233 have mingled H6148 themselves with the people H5971 of those lands: H776 yea, the hand H3027 of the princes H8269 and rulers H5461 hath been chief H7223 in this trespass. H4604
And Jehu H3058 the son H1121 of Hanani H2607 the seer H2374 went out H3318 to meet H6440 him, and said H559 to king H4428 Jehoshaphat, H3092 Shouldest thou help H5826 the ungodly, H7563 and love H157 them that hate H8130 the LORD? H3068 therefore H2063 is wrath H7110 upon thee from before H6440 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
2Co 6:1-18. His Apostolic Ministry Is Approved by Faithfulness in Exhortation, in Sufferings, in Exhibition of the Fruits of the Holy ghost: His Largeness of Heart to Them Calls for Enlargement of Their Heart to Him. Exhortations to Separation from Pollution.
1. workers together—with God (Ac 15:4; 1Co 3:9). Not only as "ambassadors."
beseech—entreat (2Co 5:20). He is describing his ministry, not exhorting directly.
you also—rather, "WE ALSO (as well as God, 2Co 5:20) beseech" or "entreat you": 2Co 6:14, 15, on to 2Co 7:1, is part of this entreaty or exhortation.
in vain—by making the grace of God a ground for continuance in sin (2Co 6:3). By a life of sin, showing that the word of reconciliation has been in vain, so far as you are concerned (Heb 12:15; Jude 4). "The grace of God" here, is "the reconciliation" provided by God's love (2Co 5:18, 19; compare Ga 2:2).
2. For—God's own promise is the ground of our exhortation.
he saith—God the Father saith to God the Son, and so to all believers who are regarded as one with Him.
heard thee—In the eternal purposes of my love I have hearkened to thy prayer for the salvation of thy people (compare Joh 17:9, 15, 20, 24).
accepted … accepted—The Greek of the latter is more emphatic, "well-accepted." What was "an accepted time" in the prophecy (Isa 49:8, Hebrew, "in the season of grace") becomes "the well-accepted time" in the fulfilment (compare Ps 69:13). As it is God's time of receiving sinners, receive ye His grace: accept (2Co 6:1) the word of reconciliation in His accepted time.
in the day of salvation—"in a day of salvation" (Lu 4:18, 19, 21; 19:42; Heb 3:7).
3. Resuming the connection with 2Co 6:1, interrupted by the parenthetical 2Co 6:2. "Giving no offense" (compare 1Co 10:33), "approving ourselves," and all the other participles down to 2Co 6:10, are nominatives to "we also entreat you" (2Co 6:1), to show the pains he took to enforce his exhortation by example, as well as precept [Alford]. "Offense" would be given, if we were without "patience" and the other qualifications which he therefore subjoins (compare Ro 14:13).
4. Translate, to mark the true order of the Greek words, "in everything, as God's ministers recommending ourselves," that is, that our hearers may give our message a favorable hearing, through our consistency in every respect, not that they may glorify us. Alluding to 2Co 3:1, he implies, We commend ourselves, not like them by word, but by deed.
patience—(2Co 12:12). Put first. "Pure-minded" follows (2Co 6:6). Three triplets of trials exercising the "patience" (patient endurance) follow: Afflictions (or "tribulations"), necessities, distresses (or "straits"); stripes, imprisonments, tumults; labors, watchings, fastings. The first triplet expresses afflictions generally; the second, those in particular arising from the violence of men; the third, those which he brought on himself directly or indirectly.
5. stripes—(2Co 11:23, 24; Ac 16:23).
imprisonments—(2Co 11:23). He had been, doubtless, elsewhere imprisoned besides at Philippi when he wrote this Epistle.
tumults—(Ac 13:50; 14:5, 19; 16:22; and recently Ac 19:23-41).
labours—in the cause of Christ (2Co 11:23; Ro 16:12).
watchings—(2Co 11:27). Sleepless nights.
fastings—The context here refers to his trials, rather than devotional exercises (compare 2Co 11:27). Thus "foodlessness" would seem to be the sense (compare 1Co 4:11; Php 4:12). But the usual sense of the Greek is fasts, in the strict sense; and in 2Co 11:27 it is spoken of independently of "hunger and thirst." (Compare Lu 2:37; Ac 10:30; 14:23). However, Mt 15:32; Mr 8:3, justify the sense, more favored by the context, foodlessness, though a rare use of the word. Gaussen remarks "The apostles combine the highest offices with the humblest exterior: as everything in the Church was to be cast in the mould of death and resurrection, the cardinal principle throughout Christianity."
6. By … by, &c.—rather, as Greek, "In … in," implying not the instrument, but the sphere or element in which his ministry moved.
knowledge—spiritual: in Gospel mysteries, unattainable by mere reason (1Co 2:6-16; 2Co 3:6, 17, 18).
long-suffering … kindness—associated with "charity" or "love" (1Co 13:4), as here.
by the Holy Ghost—in virtue of His influences which produce these graces, and other gifts, "love unfeigned" being the foremost of them.
7. By the word of truth, by the power of God—rather, "In … in," &c. As to "the word of truth" (compare 2Co 4:2; Col 1:5), and "the (miraculous) power of God" (2Co 4:7); 1Co 2:4, "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power."
by the armour—Greek, "through" or "by means of the armor." "Righteousness," which is the breastplate alone in Eph 6:13-17, here is made the whole Christian panoply (compare 2Co 10:4).
on … right … and … left—that is, guarding on every side.
8. Translate, "Through glory and dishonor (disgrace)," namely, from those in authority, and accruing to us present. "By," or "through evil report and good report," from the multitude, and affecting us absent [Bengel]. Regarded "as deceivers" by those who, not knowing (2Co 6:9), dishonor and give us an evil report; "as true," by those who "know" (2Co 6:9) us in the real "glory" of our ministry. In proportion as one has more or less of glory and good report, in that degree has he more or less of dishonor and evil report.
9. unknown … yet well known—"unknown" in our true character to those who "evil report" of us, "well known" to those who hold us in "good report" (2Co 6:8). Conybeare explains, "Unknown by men, yet acknowledged by God" (1Co 13:12). Perhaps both God and men (believers) are intended as knowing him (2Co 5:11; 11:6).
dying … live—(2Co 1:9; 4:10, 11; 11:23). Compare Gaussen's remark, see on 2Co 6:5. "Behold" calls attention to the fact as something beyond all expectation.
chastened … not killed—realizing Ps 118:18.
10. The "as" no longer is used to express the opinion of his adversaries, but the real state of him and his fellow laborers.
making many rich—Spiritually (1Co 1:5), after the example of our Lord, who "by His poverty made many rich" (2Co 8:9).
having nothing—Whatever of earthly goods we have, and these are few, we have as though we had not; as tenants removable at will, not owners (1Co 7:30).
possessing all things—The Greek implies firm possession, holding fast in possession (compare 1Co 3:21, 22). The things both of the present and of the future are, in the truest sense, the believer's in possession, for he possesses them all in Christ, his lasting possession, though the full fruition of them is reserved for the future eternity.
11. mouth … open unto you—I use no concealment, such as some at Corinth have insinuated (2Co 4:2). I use all freedom and openness of speech to you as to beloved friends. Hence he introduces here, "O Corinthians" (compare Php 4:15). The enlargement of his heart towards them (2Co 7:3) produced his openness of mouth, that is, his unreserved expression of his inmost feelings. As an unloving man is narrow in heart, so the apostle's heart is enlarged by love, so as to take in his converts at Corinth, not only with their graces, but with their many shortcomings (compare 1Ki 4:29; Ps 119:32; Isa 60:5).
12. Any constraint ye feel towards me, or narrowness of heart, is not from want of largeness of heart on my part towards you, but from want of it on your part towards me.
bowels—that is, affections (compare 2Co 12:15).
not straitened in us—that is, for want of room in our hearts to take you in.
13. Translate, "As a recompense in the same kind … be enlarged also yourselves" [Ellicott]. "In the same way" as my heart is enlarged towards you (2Co 6:11), and "as a recompense" for it (Ga 4:12).
I speak as unto my children—as children would naturally be expected to recompense their parents' love with similar love.
14. Be not—Greek, "Become not."
unequally yoked—"yoked with one alien in spirit." The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Le 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (De 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare De 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also 1Co 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (2Co 6:16; 1Co 8:10; 10:14).
fellowship—literally, "share," or "participation."
righteousness—the state of the believer, justified by faith.
unrighteousness—rather, as always translated elsewhere, "iniquity"; the state of the unbeliever, the fruit of unbelief.
light—of which believers are the children (1Th 5:5).
15. Belial—Hebrew, "worthlessness, unprofitableness, wickedness." As Satan is opposed to God, and Antichrist to Christ; Belial being here opposed to Christ, must denounce all manner of Antichristian uncleanness [Bengel].
he that believeth with an infidel—Translate, "a believer with an unbeliever."
16. agreement—accordance of sentiments (compare 1Ki 18:21; Eph 5:7, 11).
the temple of God—that is, you believers (1Co 3:16; 6:19).
with idols—Compare Dagon before the ark (1Sa 5:2-4).
as—"even as God said." Quotation from Le 26:12; Jer 31:33; 32:38; Eze 37:26, 27; compare Mt 28:20; Joh 14:23.
walk in them—rather, "among them." As "dwell" implies the divine presence, so "walk," the divine operation. God's dwelling in the body and soul of saints may be illustrated by its opposite, demoniacal possession of body and soul.
my people—rather, "they shall be to me a people."
17. Quoted from Isa 52:11, with the freedom of one inspired, who gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit.
be ye separate—"be separated" (Ho 4:17).
touch not the unclean thing—rather, "anything unclean" (2Co 7:1; Mic 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing.
receive you—The Greek implies, "to myself"; as persons heretofore out of doors, but now admitted within (2Co 5:1-10). With this accords the clause, "Come out from among them," namely, so as to be received to me. So Eze 20:41, "I will accept you"; and Zep 3:19, "gather her that was driven out." "The intercourse of believers with the world should resemble that of angels, who, when they have been sent a message from heaven, discharge their office with the utmost promptness, and joyfully fly back home to the presence of God" (1Co 7:31; 5:9, 10).
18. Translate, "I will be to you in the relation of a Father, and ye shall be to me in the relation of sons and daughters." This is a still more endearing relation than (2Co 6:16), "I will be their God, and they … My people." Compare the promise to Solomon (1Ch 28:6; Isa 43:6; Re 21:3, 7; Jer 31:1, 9).
Lord Almighty—The Lord the Universal Ruler: nowhere else found but in Revelation. The greatness of the Promiser enhances the greatness of the promises.