2 Corinthians 6 · Verse 16

2 Corinthians 6:16

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.

2 Corinthians 6:16, King James Version

2 Corinthians 6:16 in other translations

BSB	What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
WEB	What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”
ASV	And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
YLT	and what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said--‘I will dwell in them, and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,
DARBY	and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are the living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.
BBE	And what agreement has the house of God with images? for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Webster	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.

What does 2 Corinthians 6:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

16. 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 illustrated by its opposite, demoniacal possession of body and soul. my people--rather, "they shall be to me a people."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 16. And what agreement. συγκαταθεσις. 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 it is as absurd for them to mingle with the infidel world, as it would be to erect the image of a heathen god in the temple of JEHOVAH. This is strong language; and we cannot but admire the energy and copiousness of the expressions used by Paul, "which cannot," says Bloomfield, "be easily paralleled in the best classical writers."

With idols. Those objects which God hates, and on which he cannot look but with abhorrence. The sense is, that for Christians to mingle with the sinful world--to partake of their pleasures, pursuits, and follies--is as detestable and hateful in the sight of God, as if his temple were profaned by erecting a deformed, and shapeless, and senseless block in it as an object of worship. And assuredly, if Christians had such a sense of the abomination of mingling with the world, they would feel the obligation to be separate and pure.

For ye are the temple of the living God. See this explained 1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 3:17 The idea is, that as God dwells with his people, they ought to be separated from a sinful and polluted world.

As God hath said. The words here quoted are taken substantially from Ex 29:45, Lev 26:12, Eze 37:27. They are not literally quoted, but Paul has thrown together the substance of what occurs in several places. The sense, however, is the same as occurs in the places referred to.

I will dwell in them. ενοικησω. I will take up my indwelling in them. There is an allusion, doubtless, to the fact that he would be present among his people by the Shechinah, or the visible symbol of his presence. 1Cor 3:16, 1Cor 3:17. It implies, when used with reference to Christians, that the Holy Spirit would abide with them, and that the blessing of God would attend them. See Rom 8, Col 3:16, 2Ti 1:14.

And walk in them. That is, I will walk among them. I will be one of their number. He was present among the Jews by the public manifestation of his presence by a symbol; he is present with Christians by the presence and guidance of his Holy Spirit.

And I will be their God. Not only the God whom they worship, but the God who will protect and bless them. I will take them under my peculiar protection, and they shall enjoy my favour. This is certainly as true of Christians as it was of the Jews, and Paul has not departed from the spirit of the promise in applying it to the Christian character. His object in quoting these passages is to impress on Christians the solemnity and importance of the truth that God dwelt among them and with them; that they were under his care and protection; that they belonged to him, and that they therefore should be separate from the world.

(a) "ye are the temple" 1Cor 3:16,17, 6:19, Eph 2:21,22 (b) "I will dwell " Ex 29:45, Lev 26:12, Jer 31:1,33, 32:38, Eze 11:20 Eze 36:28, 27:26,27, Zech 8:8 (**) "in" "among"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 What 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 own house. I will dwell in them, and walk in them - The words are very emphatic: ενοικησω εν αυτοις· I will inhabit in them. I will not be as a wayfaring man, who turns aside to tarry as for a night, but I will take up my constant residence with them; I will dwell in and among them. I will be their God - They shall have no other God, they shall have none besides me; and if they take me for their God, I will be to them all that an infinite, eternal, and self-sufficient Being can be to his intelligent offspring. They shall be my people - If they take me for their God, their supreme and eternal Good, I will take them for my people; and instruct, enlighten, defend, provide for, support, and bless them, as if I had none else to care for in the creation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

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…

Read the full comment on 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 →

2 Corinthians 6:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τίςtisWhatG5101

δὲdenowG1161

συγκατάθεσιςsugkatathesisagreementG4783

ναῷnaō[the] templeG3485

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

μετὰmetawithG3326

εἰδώλων;eidōlōnidols?G1497

ἡμεῖςhēmeisWe ourselvesG3165

γὰρgarforG1063

ναὸςnaos[the] templeG3485

θεοῦtheouof GodG2316

ἐσμενesmenwe areG1510

ζῶντος,zōntos[the] living,G2198

καθὼςkathōseven asG2531

εἶπενeipenhas saidG2036

ὁho<the>G3588

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

ὅτιhotithatG3754

ἐνοικήσωenoikēsōI will dwellG1774

ἐνeninG1722

αὐτοῖςautoisthemG846

καὶkaiandG2532

ἐμπεριπατήσω,emperipatēsōwill walk among [them],G1704

καὶkaiandG2532

ἔσομαιesomaiI will beG1510

αὐτῶνautōntheirG846

θεὸςtheosGodG2316

καὶkaiandG2532

αὐτοὶautoithey themselvesG846

ἔσονταίesontaiwill beG1510

μουmouto MeG3165

λαός.laosa people.G2992

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Corinthians 6:16

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Exodus 29:45
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Leviticus 26:12
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Ezekiel 37:26-27
Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 32:38
And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Ezekiel 11:20
That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Jeremiah 31:33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Zechariah 2:10-11
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Jeremiah 24:7
And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

what.
Ex 20:3; 23:13; 34:14; De 4:23,24; 5:7; 6:14,15; Jos 24:14-24
1Sa 7:3,4; 1Ki 18:21; 2Ki 17:33,34; 21:4,5; 23:5-7; 2Ch 33:4,5
Eze 36:25; Ho 14:8; Zep 1:5; Mt 6:24; 1Jo 5:20,21
ye are.
1Co 3:16,17; 6:19; Eph 2:20; Heb 3:6; 1Pe 2:5
I will dwell.
Ex 29:45; Le 26:12; Ps 90:1; Eze 43:7,9; Zec 2:10,11; Joh 6:56
Ro 8:9,11; Eph 3:17; 2Ti 1:14; 1Jo 4:12,15; Re 21:3
I will be.
Ge 17:7,8; Jer 24:7; 31:33; 32:38; Eze 11:20; 36:28; 37:26,27
Ho 2:23; Zec 8:8; 13:9; Ro 9:26; Heb 8:10; Re 21:7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Corinthians 6:15
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2 Corinthians 6:16
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.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Read all of 2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	¿Y qué concierto el templo de Dios con los ídolos? porque vosotros sois el templo del Dios viviente, como Dios dijo: Habitaré y andaré en ellos; y seré el Dios de ellos, y ellos serán mi pueblo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	et quelle convenance y a-t-il entre le temple de Dieu et les idoles? Car vous êtes le temple du Dieu vivant, selon ce que Dieu a dit: « J’habiterai au milieu d’eux, et j’y marcherai, et je serai leur Dieu, et eux seront mon peuple ».
German Elberfelder 1871	und welchen Zusammenhang der Tempel Gottes mit Götzenbildern? Denn ihr seid der Tempel des lebendigen Gottes, wie Gott gesagt hat: "Ich will unter ihnen wohnen und wandeln, und ich werde ihr Gott sein, und sie werden mein Volk sein".
Latin Clementine Vulgate	qui autem consensus templo Dei cum idolis? vos enim estis templum Dei vivi, sicut dicit Deus: Quoniam inhabitabo in illis, et inambulabo inter eos, et ero illorum Deus, et ipsi erunt mihi populus.