2 Corinthians 6:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

NIV: What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

NASB: Or what harmony does Christ have with Belial, or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?

CSB: What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

NLT: What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil ? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

KJV: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

NKJV: And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

Verses in this segment pose a series of questions to illustrate the reason behind the command that believers must not become "yoked" or harnessed to non-Christians. In the previous verse, Paul asked what fellowship light could have with darkness. The answer, of course, is that the two cannot co-exist. Once the light arrives, the darkness is gone.

Now Paul evokes the imagery of kingdoms or nations: asking what harmony there could ever be between Christ and Belial. Belial is another name for Satan, used only here in the Bible. The obvious answer is that Christ and Satan could never form a mutually beneficial agreement. They stand opposed to each other. More accurately, Belial the deceiver stands opposed to Christ, who is the Truth. When Christ arrives, all that is false must depart.

The question at hand, then, is how could a Christ-follower, a Christian, ever be united in any meaningful way with someone who is not a Christian? By definition, unbelievers are still under the authority of the god of this age who has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). How could a believer and unbeliever ever pull together in a harness in the same direction? One would have to turn away from his or her appointed course.

Paul asks, as well, about the portion that will be given to believers and unbelievers. Believers share in all the unsearchable riches that belong to God (Ephesians 3:8). Unbelievers fall far short of receiving any of God's glory because they remain unforgiven for their sins (Romans 3:23). With such vastly different eternal destinies, how could a believer and unbeliever walk together in the same direction as required by the harness of a binding relationship?

Second Corinthians 6:14—7:1 begins with Paul's command to the Corinthians not to be ''unequally yoked'' with unbelievers. Light and darkness cannot be in fellowship. Christ and Satan cannot work together. Christians are God's temples on earth since His Spirit lives in them. That's why they must separate themselves from any kind of formal, binding relationship with unbelievers. Paul references several Old Testament Scriptures to show that believers in Jesus must separate themselves from being ''yoked'' to unbelievers since God is their Father and lives among them.

This passage appeals to the Corinthians not to miss the day of salvation. Paul insists that he and those who work with him have done nothing to keep anyone from believing in Christ. He points to the evidence that he has been a true apostle and representative of Christ and asks the Corinthians to open their hearts to him again. He commands them not to harness themselves to unbelievers since Christ can have nothing to do with Satan or darkness. God lives in them through the Holy Spirit, so they must separate from everything that is opposed to God.

Second Corinthians 6 is set up by the message of God's grace for sinners as spelled it out in the previous chapter. Paul begs the Corinthians not to receive it in vain. He declares that he and his team have done nothing to keep them from believing in Christ. Parallel to this, he commands the Corinthians not to be harnessed to unbelievers. This leads into a passionate discussion of affliction and comfort in chapter 7.

Second Corinthians returns to similar themes as those Paul mentioned in his first letter to this church. Paul is glad to hear that the church in Corinth has heeded his advice. At the same time, it is necessary for Paul to counter criticisms about his personality and legitimacy. Most of this text involves that subject. The fifth chapter, in contrast, contains comforting words which Christians have quoted often in times of hardship. Paul also details his expectations that the church in Corinth will make good on their promise to contribute to the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem.