Unequally Yoked – 2 Corinthians 6

As a pastor I have often been asked if it is right for a believer to marry an unbeliever, and my answer is no. Paul makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 7:39. But the passage at hand, 2 Corinthians 6, has also been appealed to as forbidding such a marriage since it is unequally yoking an unbeliever with a believer, and I think that is a valid application of this passage. But marriage is not what Paul is speaking to when he asserts this principle.

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”   

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6 ESV)

Paul now makes an all out bid to turn the Corinthians away from the false leaders who have been bewitching them.  He warns them that they are in danger of leaving the gospel, the only source of God’s grace and salvation.  They are still in the “favorable time” and it is not too late if they will recognize that Paul is the bearer of the true gospel, not these false leaders.  His commendation as a servant of Christ is both the hardships he has endured for Christ’s sake (something the false leaders can’t claim) and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life, as well as the power of God.  Though the false leaders have slandered him in many ways, they have not been able to make many spiritually rich through their preaching and service as Paul has.

Paul is baring his heart to the Corinthians in saying all this and appeals to them to bare their hearts toward him.  He yearns for a return of their affections.  He begs them not to be unequally yoked with these unbelievers nor partner with them in lawlessness and darkness.  They must not let the temple of God walk in agreement with idolatry.  God has called us believers out of the uncleanness to live lives as His pure and holy children.

We too need to recognize the true gospel that saved us and though we may feel ties with those who espouse a false gospel we must come out from among them and keep our partnership clean with the Lord.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you could plan the best possible family vacation, what would it look like?
2. What would you say Paul’s idea of best scenario with the Corinthians was?
3. What kinds of conditions keep people from baring their hearts to one another?
4. What was the evidence in Paul’s life that he was Christ’s servant?
5. What evidence would people see in your life that you are Christ’s servant? And how uncomfortable do you feel talking about this?
6. What needs to be cleaned up in our lives to better reflect our true relationship with God?