Paul addressed the Corinthians by name indicating his deep affection for them. He had held back nothing from them but had spoken openly and honestly with his heart wide open. Because of their doubts based on the influence of the false teachers, they had restricted their affection for him. He asked them gently as he might a child to respond with unrestrained love.

The Corinthians had placed themselves in danger because they were closed off to Paul and had opened themselves to the false teachers. Paul told them not to be unequally yoked to unbelievers. He warned them not to form a binding relationship with unbelievers. This is not a command to disassociate completely from unbelievers but rather not to form permanent associations with unbelievers. Paul is speaking specifically about the false teachers but this teaching does apply to other permanent associations like marriage and business partnerships. Paul goes on to show through a series of questions why it makes no sense for a believer to form such a bond with an unbeliever. The two have not only opposite but opposing world views. How can righteousness partner with lawlessness? How can light have fellowship with darkness? Obviously, they cannot. How can Christ be in harmony with Satan? (Belial is a transliteration of an Old Testament word that means a worthless person, used in Greek to speak of a lawless person, here used of Satan the most lawless and worthless of all.) What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? Spiritually they have nothing in common. And what agreement does the temple of God, the church, have with idols? Because we are the temple of the living God, we must forsake anything that would be incompatible with our relationship with Him.

Paul loosely quoted from a range of Old Testament scriptures in which God claims ownership of His people, calls them to return in holiness from exile and promises a close relationship when we come to Him with undivided hearts. Paul applies these scriptures to the church context as we are called to forsake those things that are contrary to God and turn wholeheartedly to Him. God calls us but we are responsible to leave compromising relationships and cling only to Him.

Paul returned to the beginning of this section by asking the Corinthians to make room in their hearts and to remove themselves from the influence of the false teachers. Paul again reminds them that he and his team had done nothing against anyone and they were loved by him. Despite their wavering and doubt, he loved them to the end, he was proud of them and they brought him great joy.

When we fail to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, we might be tempted to see benefits in a relationship with an unbeliever that can’t be there. Oxen are yoked together to pull in the same direction and plow a field. When a believer and unbeliever are yoked together, spiritually they will always pull in opposite directions. Is there a relationship you are forming that violates this principle? What will you do about it today?