2 Corinthians 6:16

What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

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WEBBE

What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”

BSB

What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

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.

ASV

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

BBE

And what agreement has the house of God with images? for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Original Greek

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τίς tis What G5101 δὲ de now G1161 συγκατάθεσις sugkatathesis agreement G4783 ναῷ naō [the] temple G3485 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 μετὰ meta with G3326 εἰδώλων; eidōlōn idols G1497 ἡμεῖς hēmeis We ourselves G3165 γὰρ gar for G1063 ναὸς naos [the] temple G3485 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 ἐσμεν esmen we are G1510 ζῶντος zōntos [the] living G2198 καθὼς kathōs even as G2531 εἶπεν eipen has said G2036 ὁ ho (the) G3588 θεὸς theos God G2316 ὅτι hoti that G3754 ἐνοικήσω enoikēsō I will dwell G1774 ἐν en in G1722 αὐτοῖς autois them G846 καὶ kai and G2532 ἐμπεριπατήσω emperipatēsō will walk among [them] G1704 καὶ kai and G2532 ἔσομαι esomai I will be G1510 αὐτῶν autōn their G846 θεὸς theos God G2316 καὶ kai and G2532 αὐτοὶ autoi they themselves G846 ἔσονταί esontai will be G1510 μου mou to Me G3165 λαός laos a people G2992

The early church

"What agreement hath a temple of God with idols? For ye are a temple of the living God." Now what he says is this. Neither hath your King aught in common with him, "for what concord hath Christ with Beliar?" nor have the things [aught in common'], "for what communion hath light with darkness?" Therefore neither should ye. And first he mentions their king and then themselves; by this separating them most effectually. Then having said, "a temple of God with idols," and having declared, "For ye are a temple of the living God," he is necessitated to subjoin also the testimony of this to show that the thing is no flattery. For he that praises except he also exhibit proof, even appears to flatter. What then is his testimony? For, "I will dwell in them, saith he, "and walk in them. I will dwell in," as in temples, "and walk in them," signifying the more abundant attachment to them. "And they shall be my people and I will be their God." 'What?' saith he, 'Dost thou bear God within thee, and runnest unto them? God That hath nothing in common with them? And in what can this deserve forgiveness? Bear in mind Who walketh, Who dwelleth in thee.'
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 2 Corinthians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 11–18

It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?

Read Matthew Henry on 2 Corinthians 6 →

Cross-references

52

Topics

GodChurchQuotations And AllusionsTempleFellowshipCommunion

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.