God’s Word Translation
2 Corinthians 6:16
16Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- New International Version (NIV)What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Context of 2 Corinthians 6:16
14Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers. Can right and wrong be partners? Can light have anything in common with darkness? 15Can Christ agree with the devil? Can a believer share life with an unbeliever? Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17The Lord says, “Get away from unbelievers. Separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.” 18The Lord Almighty says, “I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters.”
Read all of 2 Corinthians 62 Corinthians 6:16 word by word
τίς δὲ συγκατάθεσις ναῷ θεοῦ μετὰ εἰδώλων; ἡμεῖς γὰρ ναὸς θεοῦ ἐσμεν ζῶντος, καθὼς εἶπεν ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἐνοικήσω ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἐμπεριπατήσω, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτῶν θεὸς καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μου λαός.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- agreementσυγκατάθεσιςsugkatathesis · agreementG4783
- hath the templeναόςnaos · templeG3485
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- idolsεἴδωλονeidōlon · idolG1497
- forγάρgar · forG1063
- yeσύsu · youG4771
- areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- of the livingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- hath saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- ·ὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- I will dwellἐνοικέωenoikeō · to dwell in/withG1774
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- walk inἐμπεριπατέωemperipateō · to walk in/amongG1704
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- peopleλαόςlaos · a peopleG2992
Cross-references for 2 Corinthians 6:16
- Exodus 20:3“Never have any other god.
- Exodus 23:13“Be careful ⌞to do⌟ everything I told you. “Never mention the names of other gods or let them be heard on your lips.
- Exodus 34:14(Never worship any other god, because the Lord is a God who does not tolerate rivals. In fact, he is known for not tolerating rivals.)
- Deuteronomy 4:23Be careful that you don’t forget the promise that the Lord your God made to you. Don’t make your own carved idols or statues that represent anything the Lord your God has forbidden.
- Deuteronomy 5:7“Never have any other gods.
- Deuteronomy 6:14Never worship any of the gods worshiped by the people around you.
- Joshua 24:14“Fear the Lord, and serve him with integrity and faithfulness. Get rid of the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve only the Lord.
- 1 Samuel 7:3Samuel told the entire nation of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord wholeheartedly, get rid of the foreign gods you have, including the statues of the goddess Astarte. Make a commitment to the Lord, and serve only him. Then he will rescue you from the Philistines.”
- 1 Kings 18:21Elijah stood up in front of all the people and asked them, “How long will you try to have it both ways? If the Lord is God, follow him; if Baal is God, follow him.” The people didn’t say a word.
- 2 Kings 17:33They worshiped the Lord but also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had come.
- 2 Kings 21:4He built altars in the Lord’s temple, where the Lord had said, “I will put my name in Jerusalem.”
- 2 Kings 23:5He got rid of the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to sacrifice at the illegal places of worship in the cities of Judah and all around Jerusalem. They had been sacrificing to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the zodiac, and the entire army of heaven.
- 2 Chronicles 33:4He built altars in the Lord’s temple, where the Lord had said, “My name will be in Jerusalem forever.”
- Ezekiel 36:25I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols.
- Hosea 14:8“The people of Ephraim will have nothing more to do with idols. I will answer them and take care of them. I am like a growing pine tree. Their fruit comes from me.”
- Zephaniah 1:5I will remove those who worship all the stars in the sky on their rooftops and those who worship by swearing loyalty to the Lord while also swearing loyalty to the god Milcom.
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16What agreement hath the temple of God with idols - Nothing could appear more abominable to a Jew than an idol in the temple of God: here, then, could be no agreement; the worship of the two is wholly incompatible. An idolater never worships the true God; a Christian never worships an idol. If ye join in idolatrous rites, it is impossible that ye should be Christians. Ye are the temple of the living God - God intends to make the heart of every believer his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16And what agreement - ( ́ sugkatathesis). Assent, accord, agreement. what putting or laying down together is there? What is there in one that resembles the other? The temple of God - What has a temple of God to do with idol worship? It is erected for a different purpose, and the worship of idols in it would not be tolerated. It is implied here that Christians are themselves the temple of God, a fact which Paul proceeds immediately to illustrate; and that…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-18Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Believers together form the temple of the living God. The Holy Spirit lives in them, making them holy (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:1–10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. agreement--accordance of sentiments (compare 1Ki 18:21; Ep 5:7, 11). the temple of God--that is, you believers (1Co 3:16; 6:19). with idols--Compare Dagon before the ark (1Sa 5:2-4). as--"even as God said." Quotation from Le 26:12; Jr 31:33; 32:38; Eze 37:26, 27; compare Mt 28:20; Joh 14:23. walk in them--rather, "among them." As "dwell" implies the divine presence, so "walk," the divine operation. God's dwelling in the body and soul of saints may be…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Corinthians 6:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Corinthians 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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