TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6 verses 11–18
The apostle proceeds to address himself more particularly to the Corinthians, and cautions them against mingling with unbelievers. Here observe,
I. How the caution is introduced with a profession, in a very pathetic manner, of the most tender affection to them, even like that of a father to his children, Co2 6:11-13. Though the apostle was happy in a great fluency of expressions, yet he seemed to want words to express the warm affections he had for these Corinthians. As if he had said, "O ye Corinthians, to whom I am now writing, I would fain convince you how well I love you: we are desirous to promote the spiritual and eternal welfare of all to whom we preach, yet our mouth is open unto you, and our heart is enlarged unto you, in a special manner." And, because his heart was thus enlarged with love to them, therefore he opened his mouth so freely to them in kind admonitions and exhortations: "You are not," says he, "straitened in us; we would gladly do you all the service we can, and promote your comfort, as helpers of your faith and your joy; and, if it be otherwise, the fault is in yourselves; it is because you are straitened in yourselves, and fail in suitable returns to us, through some misapprehensions concerning us; and all we desire as a recompense is only that you would be proportionably affected towards us, as children should love their father." Note, It is desirable that there should be a mutual good affection between ministers and their people, and this would greatly tend to their mutual comfort and advantage.
II. The caution or exhortation itself, not to mingle with unbelievers, not to be unequally yoked with them, Co2 6:14. Either,
1.In stated relations. It is wrong for good people to join in affinity with the wicked and profane; these will draw different ways, and that will be galling and grievous. Those relations that are our choice must be chosen by rule; and it is good for those who are themselves the children of God to join with those who are so likewise; for there is more danger that the bad will damage the good than hope that the good will benefit the bad.
2.In common conversation. We should not yoke ourselves in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing, and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for our bosom-friends.
3.Much less should we join in religious communion with them; we must not join with them in their idolatrous services, nor concur with them in their false worship, nor any abominations; we must not confound together the table of the Lord and the table of devils, the house of God and the house of Rimmon. The apostle gives several good reasons against this corrupt mixture. (1.) It is a very great absurdity, Co2 6:14, Co2 6:15. It is an unequal yoking of things together that will not agree together; as bad as for the Jews to have ploughed with an ox and an ass or to have sown divers sorts of grain intermixed. What an absurdity is it to think of joining righteousness and unrighteousness, or mingling light and darkness, fire and water, together! Believers are, and should be, righteous; but unbelievers are unrighteous. Believers are made light in the Lord, but unbelievers are in darkness; and what comfortable communion can these have together? Christ and Belial are contrary one to the other; they have opposite interests and designs, so that it is impossible there should be any concord or agreement between them. It is absurd, therefore, to think of enlisting under both; and, if the believer has part with an infidel, he does what in him lies to bring Christ and Belial together. (2.) It is a dishonour to the Christian's profession (Co2 6:16); for Christians are by profession, and should be in reality, the temples of the living God - dedicated to, and employed for, the service of God, who has promised to reside in them, to dwell and walk in them, to stand in a special relation to them, and take a special care of them, that he will be their God and they shall be his people. Now there can be no agreement between the temple of God and idols. Idols are rivals with God for his honour, and God is a jealous God, and will not give his glory to another. (3.) There is a great deal of danger in communicating with unbelievers and idolators, danger of being defiled and of being rejected; therefore the exhortation is (Co2 6:17) to come out from among them, and keep at a due distance, to be separate, as one would avoid the society of those who have the leprosy or the plague, for fear of taking infection, and not to touch the unclean thing, lest we be defiled. Who can touch pitch, and not be defiled by it? We must take care not to defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin; so is the will of God, as we ever hope to be received, and not rejected, by him. (4.) It is base ingratitude to God for all the favours he has bestowed upon believers and promised to them, Co2 6:18. God has promised to be a Father to them, and that they shall be his sons and his daughters; and is there a greater honour or happiness than this? How ungrateful a thing then must it be if those who have this dignity and felicity should degrade and debase themselves by mingling with unbelievers! Do we thus requite the Lord, O foolish and unwise?
"And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? Or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?"
Seest thou how he uses the bare names, and how adequately to his purpose of dissuasion. For he did not say, 'neglect of righteousness,' [but] what was stronger [iniquity]; nor did he say those who are of the light, and those who are of the darkness; but he uses opposites themselves which can not admit of their opposites, 'light and darkness.' Nor said he those who are of Christ, with those who are of the devil; but, which was far wider apart, Christ and Beliar, so calling that apostate one, in the Hebrew tongue. "Or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?" Here, at length, that he may not seem simply to be going through a censure of vice and an encomium of virtue, he mentions persons also without particularizing. And he said not, 'communion,' but spoke of the rewards, using the term "portion."
The Holy Spirit is our true baptism, and for this reason we remain always baptized, for he is in us always, and nothing can deprive us of our baptism apart from the denial of God and consorting with demons. In such cases the Holy Spirit really does depart, because he cannot agree to remain in a place where Satan dwells. “For what fellowship does Christ have with Satan or the believer with the unbeliever, or God’s temple with that of demons?”
Continue studying 2 Corinthians 6:15 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
CNTR CollationThe earliest Greek manuscripts of this verse, collated letter by letter.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
2 Corinthians 6:15 poses a profound rhetorical question, challenging the Corinthian believers—and by extension, all Christians—to recognize the fundamental incompatibility between Christ and Belial, and between those who believe and those who do not. This verse, nestled within Paul's broader exhortation for spiritual separation, underscores the absolute antithesis between righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness, and calls believers to maintain a distinct identity and purity in their most significant relationships and allegiances, reflecting their consecration to God.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Paul masterfully employs Rhetorical Questions throughout 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 to drive home his point with undeniable force. By asking questions that demand an obvious negative answer, he compels the readers to acknowledge the inherent incompatibility of the juxtaposed elements. The verse is built upon profound Antithesis, presenting stark, irreconcilable opposites: Christ vs. Belial, and believer vs. infidel. This sharp contrast serves to emphasize the absolute spiritual divide. Furthermore, the use of "Belial" is a powerful instance of Personification, where an abstract concept of worthlessness and evil is given a personal identity, making the opposition to Christ even more vivid and concrete.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The theological weight of 2 Corinthians 6:15 lies in its affirmation of God's absolute holiness and the call for His people to reflect that holiness in their lives. It underscores the reality of two distinct spiritual kingdoms—the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness—and the impossibility of true allegiance to both. This verse does not advocate for social isolation from unbelievers, which Paul explicitly refutes elsewhere (1 Corinthians 5:9-10), but rather warns against deep, binding partnerships or alliances that would compromise a believer's faith, values, and ultimate spiritual commitment. It speaks to the integrity of one's spiritual identity, asserting that a Christian's core being and purpose are fundamentally different from those who do not share faith in Christ.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
2 Corinthians 6:15 serves as a timeless principle for believers navigating a world with conflicting values and allegiances. It compels us to critically evaluate the nature of our most significant relationships, particularly those involving shared life direction, values, and ultimate purpose, such as marriage, business partnerships, or deeply influential friendships. The core message is not about avoiding all interaction with unbelievers, but about safeguarding our spiritual integrity and ensuring that our closest associations do not compromise our devotion to Christ or hinder our spiritual growth. This principle calls for wisdom in discerning which "yokes" are truly unequal, leading to spiritual compromise, and which interactions are opportunities for witness and light, without sacrificing our distinct identity in Christ. Our lives, as temples of the Holy Spirit, are to manifest God's holiness in a world that desperately needs to see it.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse mean Christians should not have any interaction with unbelievers?
Answer: No, this verse does not advocate for complete social isolation from unbelievers. Paul himself clarifies this in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, stating that to avoid all contact with immoral people of this world would require leaving the world entirely. The warning in 2 Corinthians 6:15 is against forming deep, binding alliances or partnerships—especially those that involve shared spiritual or life-defining purposes—that could compromise a believer's faith, values, or allegiance to Christ. This includes marriage, business partnerships, or close friendships where the fundamental spiritual foundation is absent, leading to potential spiritual harm or compromise of one's witness. It's about discerning between redemptive engagement and compromising entanglement.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Corinthians 6:15 finds its ultimate fulfillment and meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of righteousness, light, and truth, having no "concord" or "part" with Belial, the personification of evil. Christ's life, death, and resurrection represent the decisive victory over the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15), establishing an unbridgeable chasm between His kingdom and that of evil. Through His atoning sacrifice, believers are delivered from the dominion of darkness and transferred into His glorious kingdom (Colossians 1:13), becoming "light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8). Our identity as those who "believe" is entirely derived from our union with Christ, who has cleansed us from sin and made us holy (Hebrews 9:14). Thus, the call to separation is not a legalistic burden but a joyful recognition of our new nature in Christ, who has already separated us from the power and influence of Belial and all unrighteousness, empowering us to live lives that reflect His purity and light (1 John 3:8).