Chapter 6
Starts like this:
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. [2Co 6:1 ESV]
How can grace be received in vain if we cannot lose salvation? MSB says that most of the Corinthians were saved but were hindered by legalistic teaching regarding sanctification. Some weren't saved, and weren't going to be as long as the Judaizers were teaching them that salvation was through compliance with the law of Moses. So with the saved sort of "in a holding pattern, doing the works of the law" and others not receiving the true gospel, it looked as though Paul's 2 1/2 years in Corinth might come to nothing. He was not speaking here about a specific person, but about the church in Corinth that he had founded.
Through vs 13, Paul "commends" or "introduces" himself to the Corinthians again, reminding them of how he has been no burden to them, how he suffered and worked and worried and taught and so on while he was with them. He has taken criticisms and slander, been called names, and they have not defended him, yet he stayed true to them. He draws many contrasts beginning in vs. 8b showing that he has been true. Called an imposter, but true to who he said he was. As a stranger, but well known to them. He keeps showing them these opposites perhaps to drive home how ridiculous the accusations are of those who have told these lies about him, and to point this out as a character trait of the fake apostles that they should be examining, and not Paul's own character, which they know first hand and very well.
Vss 14-18 start with "do not be unequally yoked". I always thought this was about husbands and wives. Now I am not so sure. He is talking about the church in Corinth - that is the context. He has just told them that they should be working with him. Then he pointed out how those who are speaking against him are liars, and those that hear the lies know they are lies because they have MET THE REAL PAUL and KNOW he is NOT what they accuse him of being. Therefore, their leaders are liars, their leaders are unbelievers, and their leaders are hindering the Corinthians from joining - from being yoked with - Paul. Instead, they are hooking up with the unbelieving ox team and how are the things they are being directed to do while in this yoke to them promoting the kingdom of God. There is an OT command about not harnessing oxen and mules (donkeys...something like that) together. This is poor plowing practice. Paul is implying here, I think, that he and the false apostles are as different as oxen are from mules. He is saying that his teaching of the Corinthians made them as he is - saved by grace, free from law - and that it is only proper that they be yoked with him, plow with him, work with him.
No. This isn't about marriage except glancingly, as a general principle. Marriage is nowhere in this context. 2021 - But what about working with the church across the street with a different sign in the parking lot? Catholics? Islam? Hindu? Where exactly does this "do not be unequally yoked" begin and end? My first thought would be that it begins and ends with Christology...but Paul is talking about soteriololgy.