2 Corinthians 6 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered
A response and reply to the notes on 2 Corinthians 6 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).
King James Version
SAB comment
My comment
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
As the subject of these verses is marriage, any conclusion that unbelievers have to be “shunned” is quite inconsistent. Of course, Christians and unbelievers will have different interests and lead different lives which will lead to separation, but no verse in the Bible says unbelievers have to be shunned nor that Christians cannot participate in this world or have to leave it after they have become Christians, see 1 Cor. 7:20. Jehova's witnesses are not Christians I'm sorry to say as their believes, doctrines and practices place them squarely outside what God tells us in his Word.
On the question —let us be so kind to call this comprehension deficiency a question— if it is OK to marry unbelievers, see 1 Cor. 7:13.
Having said all this, this verse does have some wider implications than the immediate context suggests. See for example A Call to Separation by A.W. Pink.
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 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.
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,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Keep away from unbelievers. Neither marry nor be friends with them.
How should nonbelievers be treated?
What the Bible says about non-Christians
Is it OK to marry unbelievers?
To Jehovah's Witnesses, everything outside of the Watchtower Organization is controlled by Satan. The Governing Body uses theses verses to condemn all holidays, civic activities, and association with non-JWs.