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What Is It to be Unequally Yoked?
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? 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. 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.”[c]
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[d]
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”[e]
7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
As for my own viewpoint on these verses, I believe they come down to key words and phrases used.
Unbelievers and believers have nothing in common. The Greek word means: a sharing, partaking; communion, fellowship.
There is no fellowship with light or darkness, believers and unbelievers. The Greek word used communicates either partnership or fellowship.
These words "partnership" and "fellowship" refer to a myriad of relationships. A community joined by a common interest, regular company, a romantic relationship, business partners, and more. All seem to indicate someone whose company you regularly keep, no matter why that is so.
Fellowship
Definition of FELLOWSHIP
Partnership
Definition of PARTNERSHIP
Partner
Definition of PARTNER
Unbelievers and believers have no harmony. The Greek word used means: unison, accord; agreement.
Unbelievers and Believers have nothing in common. The Greek word used means: a portion in common, share.
There is no agreement between believers and unbelievers. The Greek word means "assent."
We are to be free of all that contaminates body and spirit. The Greek word means: defilement or pollution.
Lastly, we are exhorted to do something that would be difficult: to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
All of that said, it seems that any close association with an unbeliever, where they are in some way a steady companion for any reason, is to violate the command to not be unequally yoked.
This means something completely unsettling for most American Christians: Church is where you find your spouse, friends, companions, close associates, and partners for life, not the unbelieving world. The verses given even offer an explanation for this fact.
Unbelievers also being people we are trying to win for Christ, through giving the Gospel.
What Is It to be Unequally Yoked?
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? 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. 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.”[c]
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[d]
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”[e]
7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
As for my own viewpoint on these verses, I believe they come down to key words and phrases used.
Unbelievers and believers have nothing in common. The Greek word means: a sharing, partaking; communion, fellowship.
There is no fellowship with light or darkness, believers and unbelievers. The Greek word used communicates either partnership or fellowship.
These words "partnership" and "fellowship" refer to a myriad of relationships. A community joined by a common interest, regular company, a romantic relationship, business partners, and more. All seem to indicate someone whose company you regularly keep, no matter why that is so.
Fellowship
Definition of FELLOWSHIP
Partnership
Definition of PARTNERSHIP
Partner
Definition of PARTNER
Unbelievers and believers have no harmony. The Greek word used means: unison, accord; agreement.
Unbelievers and Believers have nothing in common. The Greek word used means: a portion in common, share.
There is no agreement between believers and unbelievers. The Greek word means "assent."
We are to be free of all that contaminates body and spirit. The Greek word means: defilement or pollution.
Lastly, we are exhorted to do something that would be difficult: to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
All of that said, it seems that any close association with an unbeliever, where they are in some way a steady companion for any reason, is to violate the command to not be unequally yoked.
This means something completely unsettling for most American Christians: Church is where you find your spouse, friends, companions, close associates, and partners for life, not the unbelieving world. The verses given even offer an explanation for this fact.
Unbelievers also being people we are trying to win for Christ, through giving the Gospel.
John the Baptists told the Roman soldiers to not take bribes, but did not tell them to quite being army!If Paul clearly tells us not to do something, is it sin not to obey? Is it possible many christians do not know they are sinning? We know Cornelius was a soldier when the Lord saved him. But he later became a Bishop so they say. If we cannot walk after our own fleshly dictates, is it sane for us to place ourselves under oath, legally binding ourselves to walk after the flesh of an unbeliever? Especially when loving enemies is treason?
John was the last OT prophet. The New Covenant did not begin until the crucifixion. We do things differently now.John the Baptists told the Roman soldiers to not take bribes, but did not tell them to quite being army!
Paul never told the soldiers to leave their post either, and the in the NT, the NT Centuruans were all highly spooken off!John was the last OT prophet. The New Covenant did not begin until the crucifixion. We do things differently now.
Interesting. I don't think I ran across these examples in my studies yet. Do you think it is OK to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in some cases?Paul never told the soldiers to leave their post either, and the in the NT, the NT Centuruans were all highly spooken off!
the biblical example sof being unequally yoked would be in a marriage , or in a business partnership, but do not think that extends to all areas of relationships!Interesting. I don't think I ran across these examples in my studies yet. Do you think it is OK to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in some cases?
the biblical example sof being unequally yoked would be in a marriage , or in a business partnership, but do not think that extends to all areas of relationships!
I think so. Any time you submit to an unbeliever you are walking after their flesh. You are letting a carnal mind tell you what to do instead of Christ. And under oath to boot. You not only disobey Christ, you make yourself liable for punishment. Is it treason to follow Christ's command to love enemies in both the magistrate's office and in the military?the biblical example sof being unequally yoked would be in a marriage , or in a business partnership, but do not think that extends to all areas of relationships!
God narrowed to down to marriages and personal business decisions i think.You might want to follow the whole thread, the discussion is about how broad or narrow the command should be taken.
r tied in a business relationship would mean that the two would have different morals and principles applying in the business!I think so. Any time you submit to an unbeliever you are walking after their flesh. You are letting a carnal mind tell you what to do instead of Christ. And under oath to boot. You not only disobey Christ, you make yourself liable for punishment. Is it treason to follow Christ's command to love enemies in both the magistrate's office and in the military?
If you cannot lay up treasure for yourself, why shoot someone for robbing those who lay up treasure? If you are to forsake all, why kill, so others can keep their treasure? How do you give aid and comfort to the enemy in the Christian sense without committing treason? Yet Jesus tells us to do just that....
This is the popular view, but Paul did not limit it this.God narrowed to down to marriages and personal business decisions i think.
Paul was not saying do not have unsaved friends, and do not do anything with them period!This is the popular view, but Paul did not limit it this.
“Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14–18)
Having friends is not being bound to them legally.Paul was not saying do not have unsaved friends, and do not do anything with them period!
Would being in the Military or part of a non Christian business be binding you to them?Having friends is not being bound to them legally.
I think Paul forbids all legal entanglements with unbelievers.Would being in the Military or part of a non Christian business be binding you to them?
He did not tell soldiers to stop being in the Military though! neither did jesus, and the Centurions in the NT were all spoken of kindly!I think Paul forbids all legal entanglements with unbelievers.
Being unequally yoked to unbelievers covers much area. I think if we want a closer walk we will not become entangled with them and put them in what is rightfully God's place in our agreements with them.He did not tell soldiers to stop being in the Military though! neither did jesus, and the Centurions in the NT were all spoken of kindly!
And so I could not be a UAW member and work for Ford or GM?