Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers Christians with Jews or heathen, godly persons with the ungodly, spiritual with such as are carnal. The apostle particularly speaks of marriage; but the reasons he urges equally hold against any needless intimacy or society with them. Of the five questions that follow, the three former contain the argument, the two latter the conclusion. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness The righteous can have no profitable, agreeable, or comfortable society or converse with the unrighteous. What communion hath light That is, the state of light and knowledge, into which you are brought by divine mercy; with darkness That deplorable state of ignorance and folly, vice and misery, in which they continue to be lost? And what concord hath Christ Whom you serve; with Belial To whom they belong, and who reigns in all the children of disobedience? Or what part In time or in eternity; hath he that believeth In Christ and his gospel, and who is a true, genuine disciple of Christ; with an infidel
Or an infidel with a believer? The union is surely, at the first view of it, too unnatural to be either agreeable, safe, or lasting. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols Which would by this means be, as it were, erected in it? If God would not endure idols in any part of the land where he dwelt, how much less under his own roof? He does not say, with the temple of idols; for idols do not dwell in their worshippers. This is a proper question, and a just view in which to place the matter; for ye As a church, and as individuals; are the temple of the living God. See on Romans 8:9. As God hath said To his ancient Church, and in them to all his Israel, in all ages; I will dwell in them The force of the original expression cannot easily be equalled in any translation; ενοικησω εν αυτοις. The words, I will inhabit in them, or I will take up my indwelling in them, would nearly, though inelegantly, express the sense: and walk in them The former expression signifies his perpetual presence; this latter, his operation. And I will be their God In the fullest sense; manifesting my favour to them, communicating my Spirit, stamping them with mine image, and vouchsafing them communion with myself, in time and in eternity. And they shall be my people Whom I will direct and govern, protect and save, here and hereafter. The sum this of the whole gospel covenant.