Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 10:1 (Spring 1999)
Article: Unequally Yoked - A Re-Examination Of 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4
Author: Donald G. McDougall

MSJ 10:1 (Spring 99) p. 113

Unequally Yoked - A Re-Examination
Of 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4

Donald G. McDougall, Th.M.

Associate Professor of New Testament
The Master’s Seminary

A very familiar quotation in Christian circles is: “Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” It seems to be applied most often in the context of mixed marriages or mixed business partnerships. That admonition and its related command, “Come out from their midst and be separate…,” are central themes in a very important paragraph. As familiar as those two commands are, the context in which they are found is often totally disregarded in their application. The paragraph in which they are found - 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 - has been the center of great controversy for over a century. Some doubt that Paul even wrote these verses, while others question their position in the text. In order to correctly understand this passage and its message to the Corinthians and to the church as a whole throughout the centuries, it is essential to examine these verses contextually and historically and thereby come to an understanding of Paul’s purpose in penning these words in their given location in the text.

* * * * *

One of the most demanding exhortations of the New Testament is found in 2 Corinthians 7:1 where Paul states, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This brings a fitting conclusion to a paragraph that begins with the command to “stop yoking yourselves together with unbelievers” (6:14a) and contains the command to “come out from their midst and be separate…and do not touch what is unclean” (6:17). This passage has drawn the attention of many students of the Bible who have studied, preached on, and quoted from it and yet:

For many years now this paragraph has provided a focus of controversy in academic circles. Various scholars have argued that, as it is here placed, it is quite incongruous with the context, both in substance and in sentiment. Some have rejected it as being a non-Pauline interpolation; others, while not

MSJ 10:1 (Spring 99) p. 114

disputing its Pauline origin, have conjectured that through some mischance it became dislocated from its original position, either in this or in some other letter, and was wrongly inserted in the place where it now appears.1

Many of us who find such comments distasteful have ourselves dealt with this passage as if ...