11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Commentary
Vs. 11-13 11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
Having told the Corinthians all of the incredible things that he has been enduring for them and Gospels sake, the Apostle Paul now says that he has not only spoken openly to them, but he wants them to know that his heart is open to them all (vs. 11). And so here we see, as well in many other places in his epistles', Paul wasn't writing to them out of some cold and calculated "theologic", as the Greek philosophers would do. Nor was he a dogmatic fanatic who strictly held to "the letter" and yet knew nothing of God's grace and love, as the Pharisees and Sadducee's would do. Rather Paul knew God's love, specifically Christ's love for himself and all believers everywhere, and thus in that love Paul could not only endure whatever tribulations came his way, but he could also rejoice and minister the Gospel in that same Spirit love and joy as well. That all said, the Apostle Paul now invites the Corinthians in verses twelve and thirteen to open their own hearts to him as well. For Paul the Gospel wasn't just preaching and teaching, and thus receiving and declaring the great truths found in it and born out of it; but it is love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. Something which requires our receiving one another, and having fellowship with one another as one would with one's own mother or brother or father or sister. And thus create relationships and environments where one can not only feel safe and secure, but also be able express ones own heart as one would with ones best friend or spouse. That is what the Apostle is wanting to see in us all, a relationship openness, honesty, transparency and accountability that not only accepts and receives, but also guides and leads, and when necessary corrects, or provides comfort, consolation, sustenance for those in need, and thus leads to us all growing up into Christ-likeness. Therefore the Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthians to be open with himself, for he himself has not only been open with them, but he also cares deeply for them all.
Vs. 14-16 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Having affectionately addressed the Corinthians as "children"; referring not just to their understanding in the faith, but also their levels of discernment and conduct, which at times reflected something more like squabbling, self-centered, spoiled, pouting children than mature adults who have not only learned how to discern good from evil (Heb. 5:14), but also how to work through the inevitable relationship conflicts that often arise when men and women from different backgrounds come together in one house. And so the Apostle Paul now moves from declaring his affections for them, to getting very serious in his instructing them; just as a father does when he charges his children not to be led away and astray by those who live in unbelief (consider 2 Peter 3:17). Now to do that, to protect their purity in the faith, the Apostle Paul now charges us all by saying: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" vs. 14
The metaphor here of being unequally "yoked" is simply that of differing farm animals being hitched together to pull a plow, or cart, or turn a milestone etc. and is very illustrative if you think about it. For too unequally yoke differing animals together would only create much tension and imbalance as the majority would inevitably pull the minority in it's direction and at it's pace. And so just as you wouldn't hitch three oxen and a horse to pull a plow, so believers must manage their relationships and activities with unbelievers with wisdom and discernment. Because to be unequalled yoked together with them will inevitably mean that you will be pulled in the direction of life that they are traveling! Which will not be the narrow road, as Jesus says we all must stay on if we wish to follow Him as His disciple, but it will be the broad and wide road that ends in destruction (see Matt 7:13-14). Therefore the Apostle says in the second half of the verse; ..."For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" Now the Apostle's questions are meant to awaken our discernment and senses to not only perils of doing so, but specifically of seeing where our hearts loyalties truly now rest. For if with Christ then with righteousness (that is what God's Word declares to be righteousness), and thus not with the degenerating morals of this world which they codify for themselves in their laws. And thus not with lawless transgender (Deut 22:5), homosexual marriage (Lev. 18:22), marijuana legitimizing and legalizing agenda that pervades the prevailing moral conscience of this day and age. For it's not climate change that will be the ruin of humanity, its the degenerating moral change! For once a society (or individual) lowers the bar, they will just keep lowering it! Therefore we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are to have no communion with them, lest by our having "communion" with them while they live in error, we validate their wayward ways, or worse become ensnared by them (consider 1 Cor 5:9-13; 6:9-11).
"And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"
Strengthening his exhortation the Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christ has no part with Belial (i.e. Satan), and thus neither should any believer have any fellowship with an unbeliever when they are following the same, that is doing his works and deeds. From righteousness then being contrasted with lawlessness, too light being contrasted with darkness, and now to Christ having no accord with Belial, and thus a believer having no part with unbeliever, all these stark contrasts are meant to invoke in us a strong response to follow the same pattern of separation.
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
The Apostle Paul's finial exhortation here in form of a rhetorical question, though aimed squarely at the heart of the Corinthian culture with it's pagan temples, rituals, and idols, still has an application for us now. Since their are temples and idols that also exit in our day and cultures. Therefore as the Lord's redeemed people indwelt by God by His Spirit within us; and thus as both individual believers, as well as a collective body of believers, being the Temple of living God (see 1 Cor 3:16, 17, 19; Eph 2:21) we should not then out of love for and loyalty too the One true God have any agreement ("joint arrangement", "mutual agreement"; Louw Nida 31.18) with idols. For we can live peaceably with our neighbors while not embracing their wayward beliefs and practices. And so let us have no agreement with those who do not worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24), and thus worship God or "god's" through their idols. For they worship demons, not God (1 Cor 10:20; Rev. 9:20). Something if you do not already know pervades the spiritual beliefs and practices of Catholicism (1 Tim 4:1-5). Indeed in the realm of the Great Harlot every moral and spiritual abomination is found there, for there is a different spirit there which is not the Holy Spirit (see Rev 17-18:1-5).
Vs. 17-18 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Apostle's exhortation here then is simple, “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord..." Separation then from all that is spiritually and morally evil is what we as disciples of Christ are commanded to do. And thus we are not to touch what is unclean; that is we are to steer clear of it all, so that God may receive us as His sons and daughters. For though we want to see all people believe and receive the truth, and thus come to freedom and life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we do not do so at the risk of our own (or anyone else's) well being.
Vs. 7:1 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Therefore having the promises of God of His receiving us, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. For there is a cleansing which God does when He washes and renews us by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation (Titus 3:4-7), and thus gives us a justified standing with Himself through Christ. That said, there is a also a cleansing that we as Gods' now reborn children are responsible for doing. For we are commanded to also cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit so that we might be perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Therefore there will be things then that we once did, and thoughts and attitudes that we once held, and even places that we once went in ignorance, that we must now steer clear of (Rom 12:1-2). Now to do this one must be Scripturally knowledgable so as to know what is good and evil (consider Heb 5:12-14). For that is where the mind of God is found. So don't rely on others for this, you must be proactive in your own faith, not only for your own growth, but also your own spiritual well being. For if you surrender this solemn duty to others you may be brought into the bondage of the doctrines and commandments of men under the guise of pursuing holiness (consider Col 2:20-23); or the flip side of that is that you are ignorant of them, and thus in listening to others come into all kinds of wild ideas and notions which only ruin the faith of those who adhere to them (consider Heb 13:8-9). Either which is a very real possibility given the vast amount of stuff that is out there (both published, as well as simply spoken and shared as if it were Scriptural truth, both from the pulpit, as well as on the street). Therefore don't surrender your freedom In Christ, nor your Spirit discernment to others, use your God given discernment to seek and search out God's truth for yourselves (consider Acts 17:11).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Having told the Corinthians all of the incredible things that he has been enduring for them and Gospels sake, the Apostle Paul now says that he has not only spoken openly to them, but he wants them to know that his heart is open to them all (vs. 11). And so here we see, as well in many other places in his epistles', Paul wasn't writing to them out of some cold and calculated "theologic", as the Greek philosophers would do. Nor was he a dogmatic fanatic who strictly held to "the letter" and yet knew nothing of God's grace and love, as the Pharisees and Sadducee's would do. Rather Paul knew God's love, specifically Christ's love for himself and all believers everywhere, and thus in that love Paul could not only endure whatever tribulations came his way, but he could also rejoice and minister the Gospel in that same Spirit love and joy as well. That all said, the Apostle Paul now invites the Corinthians in verses twelve and thirteen to open their own hearts to him as well. For Paul the Gospel wasn't just preaching and teaching, and thus receiving and declaring the great truths found in it and born out of it; but it is love, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit. Something which requires our receiving one another, and having fellowship with one another as one would with one's own mother or brother or father or sister. And thus create relationships and environments where one can not only feel safe and secure, but also be able express ones own heart as one would with ones best friend or spouse. That is what the Apostle is wanting to see in us all, a relationship openness, honesty, transparency and accountability that not only accepts and receives, but also guides and leads, and when necessary corrects, or provides comfort, consolation, sustenance for those in need, and thus leads to us all growing up into Christ-likeness. Therefore the Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthians to be open with himself, for he himself has not only been open with them, but he also cares deeply for them all.
Vs. 14-16 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Having affectionately addressed the Corinthians as "children"; referring not just to their understanding in the faith, but also their levels of discernment and conduct, which at times reflected something more like squabbling, self-centered, spoiled, pouting children than mature adults who have not only learned how to discern good from evil (Heb. 5:14), but also how to work through the inevitable relationship conflicts that often arise when men and women from different backgrounds come together in one house. And so the Apostle Paul now moves from declaring his affections for them, to getting very serious in his instructing them; just as a father does when he charges his children not to be led away and astray by those who live in unbelief (consider 2 Peter 3:17). Now to do that, to protect their purity in the faith, the Apostle Paul now charges us all by saying: "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" vs. 14
The metaphor here of being unequally "yoked" is simply that of differing farm animals being hitched together to pull a plow, or cart, or turn a milestone etc. and is very illustrative if you think about it. For too unequally yoke differing animals together would only create much tension and imbalance as the majority would inevitably pull the minority in it's direction and at it's pace. And so just as you wouldn't hitch three oxen and a horse to pull a plow, so believers must manage their relationships and activities with unbelievers with wisdom and discernment. Because to be unequalled yoked together with them will inevitably mean that you will be pulled in the direction of life that they are traveling! Which will not be the narrow road, as Jesus says we all must stay on if we wish to follow Him as His disciple, but it will be the broad and wide road that ends in destruction (see Matt 7:13-14). Therefore the Apostle says in the second half of the verse; ..."For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" Now the Apostle's questions are meant to awaken our discernment and senses to not only perils of doing so, but specifically of seeing where our hearts loyalties truly now rest. For if with Christ then with righteousness (that is what God's Word declares to be righteousness), and thus not with the degenerating morals of this world which they codify for themselves in their laws. And thus not with lawless transgender (Deut 22:5), homosexual marriage (Lev. 18:22), marijuana legitimizing and legalizing agenda that pervades the prevailing moral conscience of this day and age. For it's not climate change that will be the ruin of humanity, its the degenerating moral change! For once a society (or individual) lowers the bar, they will just keep lowering it! Therefore we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are to have no communion with them, lest by our having "communion" with them while they live in error, we validate their wayward ways, or worse become ensnared by them (consider 1 Cor 5:9-13; 6:9-11).
"And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?"
Strengthening his exhortation the Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christ has no part with Belial (i.e. Satan), and thus neither should any believer have any fellowship with an unbeliever when they are following the same, that is doing his works and deeds. From righteousness then being contrasted with lawlessness, too light being contrasted with darkness, and now to Christ having no accord with Belial, and thus a believer having no part with unbeliever, all these stark contrasts are meant to invoke in us a strong response to follow the same pattern of separation.
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
The Apostle Paul's finial exhortation here in form of a rhetorical question, though aimed squarely at the heart of the Corinthian culture with it's pagan temples, rituals, and idols, still has an application for us now. Since their are temples and idols that also exit in our day and cultures. Therefore as the Lord's redeemed people indwelt by God by His Spirit within us; and thus as both individual believers, as well as a collective body of believers, being the Temple of living God (see 1 Cor 3:16, 17, 19; Eph 2:21) we should not then out of love for and loyalty too the One true God have any agreement ("joint arrangement", "mutual agreement"; Louw Nida 31.18) with idols. For we can live peaceably with our neighbors while not embracing their wayward beliefs and practices. And so let us have no agreement with those who do not worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24), and thus worship God or "god's" through their idols. For they worship demons, not God (1 Cor 10:20; Rev. 9:20). Something if you do not already know pervades the spiritual beliefs and practices of Catholicism (1 Tim 4:1-5). Indeed in the realm of the Great Harlot every moral and spiritual abomination is found there, for there is a different spirit there which is not the Holy Spirit (see Rev 17-18:1-5).
Vs. 17-18 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Apostle's exhortation here then is simple, “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord..." Separation then from all that is spiritually and morally evil is what we as disciples of Christ are commanded to do. And thus we are not to touch what is unclean; that is we are to steer clear of it all, so that God may receive us as His sons and daughters. For though we want to see all people believe and receive the truth, and thus come to freedom and life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we do not do so at the risk of our own (or anyone else's) well being.
Vs. 7:1 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Therefore having the promises of God of His receiving us, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. For there is a cleansing which God does when He washes and renews us by the Holy Spirit at the time of our salvation (Titus 3:4-7), and thus gives us a justified standing with Himself through Christ. That said, there is a also a cleansing that we as Gods' now reborn children are responsible for doing. For we are commanded to also cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit so that we might be perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Therefore there will be things then that we once did, and thoughts and attitudes that we once held, and even places that we once went in ignorance, that we must now steer clear of (Rom 12:1-2). Now to do this one must be Scripturally knowledgable so as to know what is good and evil (consider Heb 5:12-14). For that is where the mind of God is found. So don't rely on others for this, you must be proactive in your own faith, not only for your own growth, but also your own spiritual well being. For if you surrender this solemn duty to others you may be brought into the bondage of the doctrines and commandments of men under the guise of pursuing holiness (consider Col 2:20-23); or the flip side of that is that you are ignorant of them, and thus in listening to others come into all kinds of wild ideas and notions which only ruin the faith of those who adhere to them (consider Heb 13:8-9). Either which is a very real possibility given the vast amount of stuff that is out there (both published, as well as simply spoken and shared as if it were Scriptural truth, both from the pulpit, as well as on the street). Therefore don't surrender your freedom In Christ, nor your Spirit discernment to others, use your God given discernment to seek and search out God's truth for yourselves (consider Acts 17:11).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
No comments:
Post a Comment