2 Corinthians 6:11-18 - Separate From All Uncleanness
Paul's love failed to be appreciated by his converts because the channel of receptiveness, that is, of their faith and love, was so straitened. How often is this the case between Christ and us! Let us dredge the channel. Be ye enlarged! Open your mouth wide and He will fill it.
The best method of doing this is to be only, always, and all for Him. We must not offer Him a share of our heart and devotion. There must be no division between Him and others. Whenever iniquity, darkness, Belial, and unbelievers seek to share our nature with the Holy Spirit, and we permit the partnership, He withdraws. No idols must be permitted in any hidden shrine of the heart. The whole nature-spirit (that is, the Holy of Holies) soul (that is, the seat of our individuality), and body-must be the temple of the Eternal, who rules it from the Shekinah, which is enthroned on the Ark of the Covenant. God still walks the world in those who love Him and are wholly yielded to His indwelling. The loneliest spirit finds Him to be father, mother, brother, sister, all. What an incentive to cleanliness not only of flesh but of spirit! Hebrews 10:22. The Apostle concludes by expressing his intense thankfulness that his converts had not misunderstood the urgency of his former letter. [source]
Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 6
1That he has approved himself a faithful minister of Christ by his exhortations, 3and by integrity of life, 4and by patiently enduring all kinds of affliction and disgrace for the gospel 10Of which he speaks the more boldly amongst them because his heart is open to them, 13and he expects the like affection from them again; 14exhorting them to flee the society and pollutions of idolaters, 17as being themselves temples of the living God
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:15
Concord [συμπωνησις] Symphony. Late word from συμπωνεω sumphōneō only here and ecclesiastical writers, though συμπωνημα sumphōnēma in the papyri. [source]
Belial [ελιαλ] Transliteration of Hebrew word for worthlessness and applied to Satan (Book of Jubilees 1.20) as here. Paul graphically sums up the contrast between Christ and Belial (Satan), the heads of the contending forces of good and evil. Portion (μερις meris). The fourth of the words. Here by “unbeliever” (απιστου apistou) Paul means “disbeliever,” not just an unconverted man who yet approves Christ. [source]
Portion [μερις] The fourth of the words. Here by “unbeliever” (απιστου apistou) Paul means “disbeliever,” not just an unconverted man who yet approves Christ. [source]
Concord [συμφώνησις] Only here in the New Testament. From σύν together φωνή voicePrimarily of the concord of sounds. So the kindred συφωνία , A.V., music, see on Luke 15:25. Compare σύμφωνος withconsent, 1 Corinthians 7:5; and συμφωνέω toagree, Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36, etc. [source]
Belial [βελίαρ] Beliar. Belial is a transcript of the Hebrew, meaning worthlessness or wickedness. The Septuagint renders it variously by transgressor, impious, foolish, pest. It does not occur in the Septuagint as a proper name. The form Beliar, which is preferred by critics, is mostly ascribed to the Syriac pronunciation of Belial, the change of l into r being quite common. Others, however, derive from Belyar, Lord of the forest. Here a synonym for Satan. Stanley remarks that our associations with the word are colored by the attributes ascribed to Belial by Milton (“Paradise Lost,” B. ii.), who uses the word for sensual profligacy. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:15
Colossians 1:12To be partakers [εις μεριδα] “For a share in.” Old word for share or portion (from μερος meros) as in Acts 8:21; Acts 16:12; 2 Corinthians 6:15 (the only other N.T. examples). Of the inheritance (του κληρου tou klērou). “Of the lot,” “for a share of the lot.” Old word. First a pebble or piece of wood used in casting lots (Acts 1:26), then the allotted portion or inheritance as here (Acts 8:21). Cf. Heb 3:7-4:11. In light Taken with μεριδα merida (portion) “situated in the kingdom of light” (Lightfoot). [source]
Revelation 1:5The faithful witness [ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς] For the phraseology see on 1 John 4:9. For witness, see on John 1:7; see on 1 Peter 5:1. As applied to the Messiah, see Psalm 89:37; Isaiah 55:4. The construction again departs from the grammatical rule. The words witness, first-born, ruler, are in the nominative case, instead of being in the genitive, in apposition with Jesus Christ. This construction, though irregular, nevertheless gives dignity and emphasis to these titles of the Lord. See on Revelation 1:4. The word πιστὸς , faithful is used (1), of one who shows Himself faithful in the discharge of a duty or the administration of a trust (Matthew 24:45; Luke 12:42). Hence, trustworthy (1 Corinthians 7:25; 2 Timothy 2:2). Of things that can be relied upon (1 Timothy 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:11). (2), Confiding; trusting; a believer (Galatians 3:9; Acts 16:1; 2 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Timothy 5:16). See on 1 John 1:9. The word is combined with ἀληθινός , true, genuine in Revelation 3:14; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6. Richard of St. Victor (cited by Trench) says: “A faithful witness, because He gave faithful testimony concerning all things which were to be testified to by Him in the world. A faithful witness, because whatever He heard from the Father, He faithfully made known to His disciples. A faithful witness, because He taught the way of God in truth, neither did He care for any one nor regard the person of men. A faithful witness, because He announced condemnation to the reprobate and salvation to the elect. A faithful witness, because He confirmed by miracles the truth which He taught in words. A faithful witness, because He denied not, even in death, the Father's testimony to Himself. A faithful witness, because He will give testimony in the day of judgment concerning the works of the good and of the evil.” [source]
What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 6:15 mean?
WhatnowharmonyChristwithBelialOrpartto a believerwithan unbeliever
Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 6:15
Symphony. Late word from συμπωνεω sumphōneō only here and ecclesiastical writers, though συμπωνημα sumphōnēma in the papyri. [source]
Transliteration of Hebrew word for worthlessness and applied to Satan (Book of Jubilees 1.20) as here. Paul graphically sums up the contrast between Christ and Belial (Satan), the heads of the contending forces of good and evil. Portion (μερις meris). The fourth of the words. Here by “unbeliever” (απιστου apistou) Paul means “disbeliever,” not just an unconverted man who yet approves Christ. [source]
The fourth of the words. Here by “unbeliever” (απιστου apistou) Paul means “disbeliever,” not just an unconverted man who yet approves Christ. [source]
Only here in the New Testament. From σύν together φωνή voicePrimarily of the concord of sounds. So the kindred συφωνία , A.V., music, see on Luke 15:25. Compare σύμφωνος withconsent, 1 Corinthians 7:5; and συμφωνέω toagree, Matthew 18:19; Luke 5:36, etc. [source]
Beliar. Belial is a transcript of the Hebrew, meaning worthlessness or wickedness. The Septuagint renders it variously by transgressor, impious, foolish, pest. It does not occur in the Septuagint as a proper name. The form Beliar, which is preferred by critics, is mostly ascribed to the Syriac pronunciation of Belial, the change of l into r being quite common. Others, however, derive from Belyar, Lord of the forest. Here a synonym for Satan. Stanley remarks that our associations with the word are colored by the attributes ascribed to Belial by Milton (“Paradise Lost,” B. ii.), who uses the word for sensual profligacy. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 6:15
“For a share in.” Old word for share or portion (from μερος meros) as in Acts 8:21; Acts 16:12; 2 Corinthians 6:15 (the only other N.T. examples). Of the inheritance (του κληρου tou klērou). “Of the lot,” “for a share of the lot.” Old word. First a pebble or piece of wood used in casting lots (Acts 1:26), then the allotted portion or inheritance as here (Acts 8:21). Cf. Heb 3:7-4:11. In light Taken with μεριδα merida (portion) “situated in the kingdom of light” (Lightfoot). [source]
For the phraseology see on 1 John 4:9. For witness, see on John 1:7; see on 1 Peter 5:1. As applied to the Messiah, see Psalm 89:37; Isaiah 55:4. The construction again departs from the grammatical rule. The words witness, first-born, ruler, are in the nominative case, instead of being in the genitive, in apposition with Jesus Christ. This construction, though irregular, nevertheless gives dignity and emphasis to these titles of the Lord. See on Revelation 1:4. The word πιστὸς , faithful is used (1), of one who shows Himself faithful in the discharge of a duty or the administration of a trust (Matthew 24:45; Luke 12:42). Hence, trustworthy (1 Corinthians 7:25; 2 Timothy 2:2). Of things that can be relied upon (1 Timothy 3:1; 2 Timothy 2:11). (2), Confiding; trusting; a believer (Galatians 3:9; Acts 16:1; 2 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Timothy 5:16). See on 1 John 1:9. The word is combined with ἀληθινός , true, genuine in Revelation 3:14; Revelation 19:11; Revelation 21:5; Revelation 22:6. Richard of St. Victor (cited by Trench) says: “A faithful witness, because He gave faithful testimony concerning all things which were to be testified to by Him in the world. A faithful witness, because whatever He heard from the Father, He faithfully made known to His disciples. A faithful witness, because He taught the way of God in truth, neither did He care for any one nor regard the person of men. A faithful witness, because He announced condemnation to the reprobate and salvation to the elect. A faithful witness, because He confirmed by miracles the truth which He taught in words. A faithful witness, because He denied not, even in death, the Father's testimony to Himself. A faithful witness, because He will give testimony in the day of judgment concerning the works of the good and of the evil.” [source]