2 Corinthians 6:15 kjv
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2 Corinthians 6:15 nkjv
And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:15 niv
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:15 esv
What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6:15 nlt
What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
2 Corinthians 6 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Cor 6:14 | For what partnership hath righteousness with lawlessness? or what fellowship hath light with darkness? | Direct antecedent question |
| Rom 8:4 | that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. | Fulfillment of law |
| Eph 5:11 | Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. | Rejection of darkness |
| 1 John 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. | God as light |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. | Contrast with fruit of flesh |
| Prov 6:23 | For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life, | Light as teaching |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Word as light |
| John 8:12 | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” | Jesus as light |
| 1 Thess 5:5 | for you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. | Believers as children of light |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Transition from darkness to light |
| Col 1:13 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, | Delivery from darkness |
| Matt 6:23 | but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! | Internal darkness |
| Eph 4:17-18 | Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. | Gentile state of darkness |
| Acts 26:18 | to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, | Opening eyes to light |
| 1 Cor 10:21 | You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. | Parallel warning against mixing |
| Rom 13:12 | Let us put off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. | Putting off darkness, putting on light |
| Eph 5:8 | for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— | Past identity vs. present identity |
| Ps 36:9 | For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. | God as source of light |
| John 3:19 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. | Light and evil works |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” | Consequence of the separation |
| 1 Cor 5:9-11 | I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and plunderers, or idolaters, since then you would need to leave the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother, if he is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a plunderer,—except not to eat with such a one. | Avoiding ungodly associations |
2 Corinthians 6 verses
2 Corinthians 6 15 Meaning
This verse emphatically states the absolute incompatibility between righteousness, a believer’s life lived according to God's standards, and lawlessness, a life characterized by wickedness and disregard for God's law. It also asserts the complete disunity between light, representing truth, purity, and spiritual illumination, and darkness, symbolizing falsehood, corruption, and spiritual ignorance. There can be no genuine fellowship or shared purpose between these opposing forces.
2 Corinthians 6 15 Context
Second Corinthians chapter 6, verses 14-18, directly follows Paul's impassioned plea for the Corinthians to be reconciled to God (6:1-2). The preceding verses urge them to live as ministers of God in suffering and in glory, setting them apart. This section of chapter 6 addresses the danger of "unequally yoked" associations for believers. In the immediate context, Paul is confronting a situation within the Corinthian church where some members might be maintaining or forming close alliances with non-believers whose lifestyles and beliefs directly contradict the teachings of Christ. This could involve participation in pagan festivals, business partnerships with those involved in idolatry, or romantic relationships with unbelievers. The historical context in Corinth involved a highly syncretistic religious environment, making it easy for Christians to be influenced by or entangled with surrounding pagan practices. Paul’s directive is a call for a distinct and holy separation from the surrounding culture’s ungodly influences to maintain the purity of the church and their witness.
2 Corinthians 6 15 Word analysis
- What (Tí) - An interrogative pronoun, introducing a question. Here, it questions the possibility of connection.
- partnership (koinonia) - Means fellowship, communion, sharing in common, participation. It implies a deep and mutual relationship or sharing.
- hath (echein) - Verb, to have, to hold, to possess. Signifies possession or existence of a relationship.
- righteousness (dikaiosune) - The quality of being right, upright, just. In a Christian context, it refers to the righteousness imparted by God through faith in Christ, and a life lived in accordance with His will.
- with (pros) - Preposition, indicating direction towards, in relation to, or connection with.
- lawlessness (anomia) - Literally "without law." It denotes rebellion against divine law, wickedness, sinfulness, and utter disregard for God's commands.
- or (ē) - A conjunction introducing an alternative.
- what (tis) - Similar to the first "What," an interrogative pronoun.
- fellowship (metoche) - Means participation, sharing, communion. It suggests an association or a common undertaking.
- hath (echein) - Again, the verb to have or possess.
- light (phos) - Denotes illumination, radiance, truth, purity, and divine presence.
- with (meta) - Preposition, signifying with or among.
- darkness (skotos) - Represents the absence of light, spiritual ignorance, evil, sin, and the devil's dominion.
Group of words analysis:
- "What partnership hath righteousness with lawlessness?" and "what fellowship hath light with darkness?" are rhetorical questions emphasizing absolute incongruity. The structure is designed to evoke an immediate "none" or "nothing" response. The repetition of "what hath" and the parallel comparison of "righteousness with lawlessness" and "light with darkness" underscores the profound, unbridgeable chasm between godly and ungodly principles.
2 Corinthians 6 15 Bonus section
The imagery of light and darkness is prevalent throughout Scripture, often symbolizing God's presence and truth versus Satan's deception and evil. In ancient near eastern cultures, dualistic philosophies were common, which viewed the universe as a struggle between good and evil forces. Paul's polemic here isn't just abstract; it’s a practical imperative for the Corinthian church, likely dealing with subtle ways their cultural surroundings were impacting their Christian practice. The prohibition implicitly calls believers to self-examination regarding their close associations, ensuring these relationships do not compromise their distinct identity in Christ and their witness to the world. The verse's powerful, definitive statement sets the stage for the imperative in the following verse to separate and be holy, reflecting God's own holiness.
2 Corinthians 6 15 Commentary
Paul's assertion in this verse is a powerful declaration against syncretism or compromising alliances. He establishes that there is no common ground, no shared foundation, and no legitimate union possible between the values and practices of true godliness (represented by righteousness and light) and the principles of rebellion and evil (represented by lawlessness and darkness). This is not a prohibition against interaction with unbelievers in everyday life, but a strict warning against intimate spiritual, ethical, and practical associations that would dilute or corrupt the believer's faith and testimony. It echoes the Old Testament’s emphasis on separation from pagan practices to maintain covenant faithfulness and the New Testament's call to holiness. The believer, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, is a bearer of divine light and is called to walk in righteousness, making any union with its opposite a direct violation of their spiritual identity and God’s redemptive purpose for them.