2 Corinthians 6:14

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers Dean Stanley observes on the "remarkable dislocation of the argument here." But the connection of thought is not difficult to trace. The only reward (see last verse) St Paul sought from the Corinthians was conduct in accordance with the Gospel of Christ. This was the best form their sympathy with him could take. Therefore he touches on some of the points on which they were in the habit of doing most violence to their Christian profession. They did not keep sufficiently aloof from unbelievers, but even went so far as to -sit at meat" with them -in the idol-temple" (see 1 Corinthians 8:10, and notes) and thus become partakers with them in their idolatry, whereby they were the cause of infinite mischief to the souls of their brethren. The reference in the words -unequally yoked together" is to the precept in Deuteronomy 22:10, a precept, like many similar ones in the same chapter (2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 6:11) and elsewhere in the Mosaic laws, manifestly figurative in its character. The Apostle's words must not be confined to intermarriages with the heathen, though of course it includes them in the prohibition. It refers to all kinds of close and intimate relations. "They are yoked together with unbelievers, who enter into close companionship with them." Estius.

what fellowship The word thus rendered here is not the same as that rendered communionbelow, a word which (see notes on 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:16) is itself rendered indifferently by communionand fellowshipin the N. T., but is derived from the word signifying to partake (partynge, Wiclif), e.g. in 1 Corinthians 10:17. See Ephesians 5:7; also 1Ma 1:13-15 and 2 John 1:11.

unrighteousness Literally, lawlessness, the normal condition of the heathen man, Romans 6:19, while the Christian is endowed with -God's righteousness," ch. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

light with darkness Cf. John 1:5; John 3:19, the one signifying the condition of man in Christ, the other his condition without Christ. See also Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; and ch. 2 Corinthians 4:4.