'2Co 7:1

Back to Contents

2Co 6:14-7:16 CONCERNING PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE

The Christian in ungodly society (2Co 6:14-7:1)

Apparently the Corinthians still misunderstood what Paul was trying to teach them about relationships with unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor 5:9-11).

Previously they thought it meant cutting themselves off from unbelievers completely. Now they go to the other extreme and think their relationships can be as close as they like, even to marriage. Not so, says Paul. There must be no permanent and binding relations with unbelievers.

The new life of Christians is as different from the life of non-Christians as light is from darkness or as Christ is from Satan (2Co 6:14-15).

The church is the temple of God, and so is the individual Christian (cf. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19).

God dwells within his people, and his dwelling place must be holy. Being united with idol worshippers is the same as bringing a heathen idol into God’s temple (2Co 6:16).

Christians can have no part in the ungodliness of the sinful society in which they live. They are now members of the family of God, and their relationship with their heavenly Father is more important than all their physical and earthly relationships (2Co 6:17-18).

In view of this, they must make sure they are cleansed from the impurities of the ungodly world, so that they might be holy before God (2Co 7:1).