This one scripture is most often quoted to be in the context of a warning to the believer to not be married to an unbeliever. That's what I used to think also, because it was taught exclusively in that context in the impostor churches. Shaking off the dust of the traditions of men and the false teachings that I have learned (and believed) over the years, this is one that I revisited recently. The context is actually very clear and it is speaking of the believers working together with unbelievers "in the ministry of God." At the end of this chapter, the church is specifically told to come out from among them and not to touch the unclean thing. I have heard preachers use this to offer justification for people to divorce or put away their wife or husband, thinking that this passage is describing marriage, that would be a logical takeaway, but that's not the context, nor the embodiment of this chapter.
2 Corinthians 6
1 We then, as workers together with him
[chapter 5 defines "him" as God]
, 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?
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.
This became clearer once I realized that the church that Christ has built is exclusively his saints that have been born of his Spirit and that the unbeliever is not a part of his Church. The impostor churches are mingled congregations of believers and the unbelievers working together for what many of them think is the ministry of God.
I think there's much more depth to be gleaned from this than what is on the surface, however when we realize that we've believed something falsely such as this passage being about marriage, then we're no longer limited to the confines that the false teachings have held our minds in.
I see a lot of problems with being yoked together with unbelievers in the work of the ministry of God.
This isn't to say that there's not a principle of unity found in this chapter that can be translated into marriage, as it is not good for a believer to marry an unbeliever, but that could only be a warning to not enter such a union, and not acceptable to dissolve one that already exists. There are other scriptures that speak about that, clearly. When we are specifically told to "come out from among them" in this passage, if one believes this is speaking of marriage, then it lends to the idea that it's okay to divorce your spouse because they are not a believer and that is warned against in other scripture.
The main reason I brought this topic up is that after having read several dozen topics here, I've noticed "be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" being used in the context of marriage, so I thought it might be a great topic to address. I know there are people that need to read this and pray regarding this specific topic. It might have eternal significance.
