2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, From Isaiah 52:11. Paul, as inspired, gives variations sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. BE YE SEPARATE - `be separated' (Hosea 4:17). TOUCH NOT THE (RATHER, ANY) UNCLEAN THING (2 Corinthians 7:1; Micah 2:10). Touching is more polluting, as implying participation, than seeing. I WILL RECEIVE YOU - `to myself' [ eisdexomai (G1523)], a...

17._Wherefore come out from the midst of them. _This exhortation is taken from Isaiah 52:11, where the Prophet, when foretelling the deliverance, at length addresses the priests in these terms. For he makes use of a circumlocution to describe the priests, when he says, _Ye that bear the vessels of the Lord, _inasmuch as they had the charge of the _vessels, _by means of which the sacrifices, and other parts of divine worship, were performed. There can be no doubt that his design is to admonish them, that, while eagerly desirous to come forth, (621) they should be on their guard against any contamination from the many pollutions with which the country (622) was overrun. Now this is no less applicable to us, than to the ancient Levites, for if so much purity is required on the part of the keepers of the

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 themsel...

Verse 17. _WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM_] Is it not plain from this and the following verse that God would be their God only on the ground of _their taking him for such_, and that this depended on their being _separated_ from the works and workers of iniquity? for God could not _inhabit in them_ if they had concord with Belial, a portion with infidels; c. Those who will have the promises of God fulfilled to them must come under the _conditions_ of these promises: if they are not _separate_-if they _touch the unclean_ _thing_, God will not receive them and therefore will not be their God, nor shall they be his people....

WHEREFORE - Since you are a special people. Since God, the holy and blessed God, dwells with you and among you. COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM - That is, from among idolaters and unbelievers; from a frivolous and vicious world. These words are taken, by a slight change, from Isaiah 3:11. They are there applied to the Jews in Babylon, and are a solemn call which God makes on them to leave the place of their exile, to come out from among the idolaters of that city and return to their own land; see my note on that place. Babylon, in the Scriptures, is the emblem of whatever is proud, arrogant, wicked, and opposed to God; and Paul, therefore, applies the words here with great beauty and force to illustrate the duty of Christians in separating themselves from a vain, idolatrous, and wicked world....

EXPOSITION The methods and conditions of an apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 6:1). Appeal to the Corinthians to reciprocate his affection and separate themselves from evil (2 Corinthians 6:11). 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1 WE THEN, AS FELLOW WORKERS. Continuing the entreaty of 2 Corinthians 5:20, he adds, "But as [his] fellow workers we also exhort you." The "also" shows that he does not rest content with merely _entreating _them (δεόμεθα), but adds to the entreaty an exhortation emphasized by a self-sacrificing ministry. "Fellow worke

WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM,.... Since they were the temple of the living God, built up an habitation for the Most High; since he resided among them, took his walks in the midst of them, was their God, and they were his people. These words are taken out of Isaiah 52:11 where the several phrases here used may be observed. They seem to be directed to the Israelites, and particularly to the priests and Levites, who bore the vessels of the Lord; and are fitly applied to believers under the Gospel dispensation, who are by Christ made priests unto God. They are usually interpreted by the Jewish writers, as a call to the Jews to come out of captivity, to quit Babylon and Persia, and the several cities and countries where they were; and are applied in Revelation 18:4 to mystical Babylon, the church of R

2 Corinthians 6:1. _We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain._ God's servants are called to take many different positions. They are ambassadors under one aspect; they are workers under another. As ambassadors, they are ambassadors for Christ, as workers, they are workers together with God. Oh, how much it costs to win a soul! I mean, not only how much it cost the Saviour, so that he broke his very heart over it, and poured out his life's blood, but also how much it must cost the messenger of peace! He must know how to beseech and implore; and when even this fails, he must still go on toiling, labouring, as a worker together with God. 2 Corinthians 6:2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, a

COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM Separation, Summary: (1) Separation in Scripture is twofold: "from" whatever is contrary to the mind of God; and "unto" God Himself. The underlying principle is that in a moral universe it is impossible for God to fully bless and use His children who are in compromise or complicity with evil. The unequal yoke is anything which unites a child of God and an unbeliever in a common purpose. (Deuteronomy 22:10). (2) Separation from evil implies (a) separation in desire, motive, and act, from the world, in the ethically bad sense of this present world-system. (_ See Scofield) - (Revelation 13:8); and _ (b) separation from believers, especially false teachers, who are "vessels unto dishono

8. THE APOSTLE'S EXHORTATIONS AND REJOICINGS. CHAPTER 6:14-7 _ 1. His Exhortations. (2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1 .)_ 2. His Rejoicing and Confidence. (2 Corinthians 7:2 .) The first exhortation is to separation from evil, without which no true fellowship with God can be enjoyed. It is one of the most important exhortations in the Pauline epistles, and greatly needed in our days of laxity and worldliness among Christians. God calls His people to holiness. “But as He who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” He has separated us from the world which lieth in the wicked one