2 Corinthians 6 16

2 Corinthians 6:16 kjv

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 Corinthians 6:16 nkjv

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."

2 Corinthians 6:16 niv

What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

2 Corinthians 6:16 esv

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.

2 Corinthians 6:16 nlt

And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: "I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

2 Corinthians 6 verses

2 Corinthians 6 16 Meaning

This verse powerfully asserts the absolute incompatibility between true believers, who collectively and individually constitute the sacred dwelling place of the living God, and the worship of lifeless idols or engagement with pagan practices. It declares that believers are God's temple, directly drawing on Old Testament promises where God vowed to indwell, walk among, and sustain a covenant relationship with His chosen people. The core message is one of separation and holiness, emphasizing that God's sacred presence in His people precludes any partnership or defilement with what is antithetical to Him.

2 Corinthians 6 16 Context

This verse is the climatic statement concluding Paul’s impassioned appeal in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, where he fervently urges the Corinthian believers to sever intimate ties with unbelievers and pagan influences. The preceding rhetorical questions (2 Cor 6:14-15) highlight the inherent impossibility of genuine communion between contrasting spiritual realities: righteousness and lawlessness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial. Verse 16 builds upon these stark dichotomies by directly stating the believer's profound identity, providing the theological basis for the required separation.

Corinth, a bustling cosmopolitan city, was a nexus of diverse pagan religions, philosophical schools, and prevalent immorality often entwined with idol worship (e.g., temples of Aphrodite, Apollo). Early Christians faced constant pressure to participate in societal and religious customs that involved idol feasts or associations with pagan deities. Paul is not promoting social isolation, but a robust spiritual distinctiveness and purity. He uses vivid theological language to directly counter any potential tendencies toward syncretism or compromise, forcefully reminding believers of the profound sanctity conferred upon them by God's indwelling presence. The polemic is clear: the sovereign, living God cannot co-exist or share allegiance with inert idols; His dwelling among His people necessitates their exclusive devotion and separation from anything that defiles His holy presence.

2 Corinthians 6 16 Word analysis

• And what agreement: (Greek: tis synekkata-thesin) - The initial "and" acts as a concluding summation of the prior rhetorical questions about incompatibility. "Agreement" (from a root implying harmony or common foundation) emphatically questions the possibility of any accord or shared basis. This implies a complete and fundamental lack of commonality.
• hath the temple: (Greek: naō) - Refers to the most sacred part of the temple, the inner sanctuary—the very dwelling place of God. Paul's choice of naos rather than hieron (the temple complex) elevates the spiritual status of believers, declaring them the holiest space.
• of God: Emphasizes divine ownership and absolute sanctity. It belongs exclusively to the One True God.
• with idols?: (Greek: eidōlōn) - Denotes false gods, lifeless images, and pagan objects of worship. This stands in absolute, non-negotiable contrast to the living God, underscoring the spiritual bankruptcy of idolatry.
• for ye are: A direct, declarative statement affirming the present spiritual reality and corporate identity of the Corinthian believers. It asserts their actual state, not a future aspiration.
• the temple of the living God: Reaffirms their sacred identity. "Living God" (Greek: theou zōntos) profoundly distinguishes Yahweh from dead, man-made idols, highlighting His dynamic, active, and life-giving nature. This divine indwelling is the very core of their separation from idolatry.
• as God hath said: Introduces undeniable divine authority. Paul weaves together prophecies from the Old Testament to demonstrate that this new reality fulfills ancient promises.
• I will dwell in them: (Greek: enoikēsō en autois) - Signifies God taking up permanent, intimate residence within believers. This denotes an internal and profound presence, actualized by the Holy Spirit.
• and walk in them: (Greek: emperipatēsō) - Not just static indwelling, but an active, dynamic presence, moving among them, indicating fellowship, active care, and guidance. God is actively present, involved, and known among His people.
• and I will be their God: The essential, core promise of the covenant. God personally identifies Himself as the sovereign provider and protector of His people.
• and they shall be my people: The corresponding covenant promise to believers – their identity, belonging, and unwavering allegiance are bound directly to God. They are His special possession.

Words-Group analysis:

• "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?": This rhetorical question underlines the absolute incongruity. A sanctuary dedicated to God's presence can have no common ground with objects representing dead or false deities. It challenges any thought of religious syncretism as an impossibility.
• "for ye are the temple of the living God": This foundational declaration provides the theological basis for Paul's appeal for separation. It elevates the individual and collective body of believers to a sacred space, spiritually fulfilling Old Testament prophecies regarding God's dwelling, through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
• "as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people": This pivotal composite quotation synthesizes promises from various Old Testament books (e.g., Lev 26:12, Ezek 37:27, Jer 31:33). It powerfully signifies God's unchanging desire for an exclusive, intimate, and active covenant relationship with His people, now manifested in the New Covenant through believers. It emphasizes divine ownership, continuous presence, and a reciprocal bond of loyalty.

2 Corinthians 6 16 Bonus section

The Old Testament prophecies referenced by Paul in this verse (notably from Leviticus, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah) reveal a consistent divine blueprint for an intimate, personal covenant relationship, fully realized in the New Covenant. The "dwell" and "walk" imagery evokes God's dynamic and relational presence, transcending the static nature of the ancient Temple structure. This transformation highlights that God's Shekinah glory now resides within transformed human hearts and the believing community, not solely in a physical building. The shift from a localized, physical temple to a dispersed, spiritual temple of believers retains the sanctity and exclusivity associated with God’s presence. This understanding also serves as an eschatological pointer to the ultimate dwelling of God with humanity in the new heavens and new earth, where He Himself will be the temple, ever-present with His people (Rev 21:3, 22:3-4). Thus, the call for holiness extends beyond mere ritual; it becomes an internal, transformative reality based on the God who resides within.

2 Corinthians 6 16 Commentary

2 Corinthians 6:16 serves as the definitive theological bedrock for Paul's exhortation to spiritual separation in the surrounding verses. He frames the command for holiness not as an arbitrary rule, but as a direct consequence of the believer's transformed identity. When Paul proclaims "ye are the temple of the living God," he asserts a profound spiritual reality: both individually and corporately, believers become the sacred abode of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This intrinsic holiness demands absolute exclusivity in devotion and worship. The stark contrast drawn between the "living God" and "idols" is absolute: divine life and truth versus lifelessness and falsehood. The subsequent citation from the Old Testament solidifies this truth, reiterating God's enduring covenant promise of intimate dwelling and active presence among His people, committing Himself as their God and claiming them as His own. This spiritual fulfillment in Christ mandates a lifestyle of consecration, demonstrating that any compromise with idolatry, worldly values, or ungodly entanglements is a desecration of the very dwelling place of God. Practically, this calls for intentional choices to distance oneself from anything that compromises one's allegiance to Christ, whether overt paganism, unholy alliances, or subtle cultural accommodations that undermine faith and purity.