2 Corinthians 6 vs 11 - 18 - Corps-30
Publication Date: May 11, 1983
Walter J. Cummins graduated from the Power for Abundant Class in 1962.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio State University in 1968 and his Master of Education degree in Secondary School Administration in 1978 from Wright State University.
He was ordained to the Christian by The Way International in 1968. He has studied at The Way International under Victor Paul Wierwille and K.C.Pillai. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was director of the Research department of the Way International and served as assistant to the president.
May 11, 1983
Thirty-first Corps Night
"The temple" section but it is really the nail-down, smash-down, bring 'em all back
together and realize how great life is, section. It is a short section. II Cor. 6:11-18, but it
has a lot of impact, a lot of heart and a lot of figurative language which puts a lot of
emphasis on this section.
UII Cor. 6:11
"O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you," FOS, UeleutheriaU, an expression of feeling
by way of boldness of speech. At this point it is the only place the Corinthians are
specifically named outside of the opening of each book. It is at this point that the
Corinthians are openly and personally confronted. All of this so far has naturally been
directed to the Corinthians but it is also to the entire Church. It is a reproof epistle and
designed to bring anyone back to God, but at this point it is reaching personally to the
Corinthians and that is why it starts with this phrase. It is addressed to them but you could
put your own name in there. The mention of them by names shows the great concern and
love God had for the Corinthians, that they personally receive what He is teaching.
"our mouth is open," - it is a custom. The meaning of the phrase is that nothing is held
back. "We have told you everything," is what this phrase means literally. In other words,
everything they needed to know. Once you have told somebody everything they need to
know, let us say in regards to salvation - who is responsible? They are! Until you tell
them, it is your responsibility. But once you have told them, it is their responsibility to
believe. This phrase also implies that the speaker is speaking from the depth of his heart;
he is involved with what he is saying.
From Tom Berner's paper on this topic: To open the mouth or lips as it is sometimes
referred to in the Bible, is used of someone who speaks if the man's real heart and should is
involved in what he says. Otherwise it would not say that he opened his mouth to talk. It
would simply say, "He said," or "He told them." The emphasis is that it is not just empty
words, or hot air, or a running off of the mouth. Such a man breaks the silence by
speaking everything necessary to communicate his heart. Judges 11:35 & 36 - I Samuel
2:1 - Hannah said her mouth was enlarged; and that meant that she could talk back loudly,
boldly, and dare to say plenty to those people who had previously ridiculed her for being
barren.
In the eastern culture, someone who speaks plainly and tells everything is said to open his
mouth wide, or to have a large mouth. Matthew 5:2 - It wasn't that he let a few words slip
out -he opened his mouth - he opened his heart, he said everything that was necessary, that
needed to be said to communicate. He poured his heart and soul out to the people.
Matthew 13:35 - This is a quote from Ps 78:2 - As he spoke in parables, Jesus Christ
poured truths from his heart. He said everything that was necessary but he said it in
parables.
Acts 8:35 - If he only spoke a few words, that would not be everything but by saying he
opened his mouth, it means he said everything necessary in order for the eunuch to get
born again.
Ephesians 6:29 & 20 - Paul's prayer is that he would freely and plainly speak in public
everything necessary in order to clearly make known the good news regarding the mystery.
As an ambassador he was responsible to deliver the message he had been given accurately
and verbatim.
Not to open your mouth is just the opposite in the eastern culture. It means to be silent, it
indicates that a person remains speechless, he restrains or restricts himself from speaking.
Job 2:12 & 13 - Job 3:1 - he opened his mouth and said everything necessary to
communicate his condition. Job restrained himself from speaking until this time. Then he
broke the silence by pouring forth the grief and sorrow in his heart.
Proverbs 24:7 - does not mean he would not talk, just means he would not say what was
necessary. In the gate he does not speak the necessary things at the appropriate time. In
the east, the important meetings and counsels are held at the gate of the city where the
people gathered to settle disputes, discuss the affairs of the town, receive the judgment of
the elders. A fool would remain silent and not give counsel when he sat with the elders of
the gate.
Is. 53:7 - Jesus Christ didn't open his mouth when he stood trial.
Acts 8:32 - Jesus Christ remained silent and did not protest when he stood before Pilot. He
controlled his expression to a minimum of speaking. Jesus Christ obediently endured the
physical and mental abuse on our behalf when he suffered and died. But there were other
time he did not. He spoke everything that was necessary - he opened his mouth, but not
when he suffered and died. He said things, but he did not say all that much.
Romans 10:9 & 10 - It is more than just saying it with your lips, your mouth; but it is from
the heart to pour forth from your heart everything that is necessary in making Jesus Christ
your Lord. Can you do it out loud? Can you do it quietly? Sure, but the important thing is
that you do it. That is why the word "mouth," is used here and it just does not say to
"confess" it.
UII Cor. 6:11
They said everything that was necessary to be said in order for them to get their lives back
in order.
"heart is enlarged," - another idiomatic expression, meaning, we are relieved. Aramaic is
rbach, literally means to enlarge. It is used metaphorically, meaning, to be relieved. Take
your heart for example . . . suppose there is a lot of pressure on it.
Get a picture in your mind of something pressing on your heart - say your hand, and then
you enlarge it. What are you doing? Taking the pressure off. If you squeeze a balloon
with your hand, and then you enlarge your hands, what are you doing? You are taking the
pressure off the balloon. That is why it figuratively means to be relieved. Or, to set free
from pain, where the pain is relieved, the pressure is taken off. Or to be set free from
anxiety or stress. Or to be recovered from illness, or to be delivered from child.
Ps. 119:32 - You study, read and put the Word on in your heart and mind. Then that Word
will enlarge your heart, it will relieve the pressure from your heart. Then you are able to
run the way of the Word.
Why were their hearts relieved? Because once you have spoken, it is no longer your
responsibility. Until you have spoken, the words of reproof, or whatever needs to be said,
it is still your responsibility. Once you have spoken, it becomes the other person's
responsibility to believe it, and get his life lined up with God's Word. Then your heart is
relieved, the pressure is taken off.
UII Cor. 6:12
"straightened," - same word used in II Cor. 4:8.
"distressed," - means distressed or crushed or really squeezed, pressed down, confined.
You have to remember the context here is that the confining here was on the heart, and on
the mouth. See, our mouth is open, we have told you everything necessary, so our hearts
are relieved, the pressure is off. So you are not pressured, really squeezed, restricted in
sharing your heart with us. You are not pressured or restricted by US. But you are
pressured or restricted by your own bowels. "Bowels," represents the feelings, affections
or emotions, which is another use of an idiomatic word. What was causing them to have
all that pressure? Their own emotions! They got upset. They were putting the pressure on
themselves. Now they knew God's Word! Paul had shared everything that was necessary
for them to be relieved and now his heart is relieved so they are not pressured by him -
they are restricted, in really letting loose and opening up their hearts like Job.
James 4:1-7 - We are not to be ignorant of Satan's devices. We are to resist the devil. And
it is the lusts that were putting pressures upon their lives. Not the apostles.
James 1:12-16 - It was their emotions that were putting pressures on their lives.
UII Cor. 6:13
The parenthesis there is right. Specifically, it is the FOS, UepitrechonU. It is an explanatory
statement. This is not spoken to lessen the Corinthians, but rather to encourage them to be
receptive to the correction as children. The word used here in the Greek, indicates the
warmth and tenderness that Paul felt for the Corinthians. If he wanted to belittle them he
would have used the word "babies," like he did in I Cor. 3:1.
If he wanted to emphasize their dignity and legal rights as family members he would have
said, "sons."
This whole phrase not only emphasizes love and tenderness for the Corinthians, but also
their responsibility to obey and follow their father in the Word, the Apostle Paul.
"Now for a recompense in the same," - the Aramaic literally means "pay me your debt." In
other words, "Pay me what you owe."
The Greek is an unusual construction. It just has "the same recompense." That does not
make a whole lot of sense. Therefore, the "pay me," must be supplied by UelipsisU, in Greek.
But the Aramaic has the full expression. "Pay me your debt."
I have opened my heart, so now in context, what would they need to pay back? Open their
hearts!
"Be ye also enlarged" - The Aramaic literally says, "and enlarge your love toward me."
The Greek is, "you be enlarged also." The word "enlarged," again means relieved.
II Cor. 6:11-13 Literals according to usage:
11 O Corinthians, we have told you every necessary thing [opened our hearts] and
our hearts are relieved.
12 You are not restricted by us [in opening your hearts] but you are restricted by
your own emotions.
13 (I speak as to my own kids) pay what you owe me [open your hearts] allow
yourselves to be relieved also.
UII Cor. 6:14-16a
Five questions, FOS - UerotesisU - rhetorical questions. To be unequally yoked is to be yoked
together with different species of animals. The word "yoke" implies a binding tie, or a
union.
Deut. 22:10 - the most obvious yoke is a believer marrying an unbeliever.
"fellowship," - communion - concord - part - agreement. All these are different ways of
describing being unequally yoked. Five sets of contrasting things here. The five illustrations
of opposites show that the believer and the unbeliever have a totally different
orientation. They just don't come from the same mold. This truth can easily be forgotten
by those who are yet carnal. As is said in I Cor. 3:3. I Cor. 15:33 says it also. Their
association with unbelievers would cause their morals and ethics to be corrupted. In
I Cor., it mentions it. Here it makes an issue out of it, with 5 successive rhetorical
questions and each one leading to a more specific aspect of agreement.
1) Fellowship - metoke - sharing in, or a partaking, like a partnership. The Aramaic word
means fellowship or it could be a partnership as well. Luke 5:2-7 - "partners" form of
koinoneo, they shared fully, it was a business relationship where each shared fully in the
profit. In I Cor. sharing fully is not even the question. The question is metoke. Does
righteousness have a partnership? Does it share in the percentage of the profits with
unrighteousness? In no way!!! There is no partnership with righteousness and lawlessness.
2) Communion - The Greek does use the word koinōnea, but Rev. Cummins thinks the
Greek is wrong, because it is not really even an issue here. And all of these will go down
the line from now on, getting more specific as they go. Here we are dealing with a
partnership - but what do you do when you have a partnership? You meet on a daily or
weekly basis. However, the Aramaic word, chultana, means a mixing, a social
acquaintance or friendship. We are business people, we share in the profits, a percentage,
that is our agreement. We must see each other periodically, right. But now it is not about
partners, merely social acquaintances. We may want to make business arrangements when
we see each other. This is less than the very rigid, locked in stuff. It is going down the
line, farther apart as far as direct relationship. Light and darkness is specifically spiritual
light and spiritual darkness. Between these there is no mixing, no friendship, no social
acquaintances.
3) Concord - In Aramaic, it means an agreement. shalmuthia. It comes from shlama,
which means peace. It is like a peaceful agreement or concord. The Greek word also
means agreement - sumphonēsis, used of a contract that was used for many types of
commercial agreements. I Cor 7:5, uses a related word, consent, mutual agreement. Also
used in Matt. 18:19 - agree. Now, it is just a contract, you are not acquainted. See how we
are getting farther apart. There is no contract or agreement between Christ and Belial the
devil. The Hebrew word for Belial means worthlessness. Deut. 13:13 - they were enticing
the believers to go out and serve other gods.
I Samuel 2:12, II Sam. 22:5 "ungodly men" = sons of Belial Proverbs 6:12-15 - context is
business - "naughty persons" = sons of Belial. They were sons of Belial and they were
business men. They would stand in the marketplace; but they were not the men you were
talking to, they'd have their front men out there selling the wares. And the sons of Belial
would be standing back behind a curtain and you would have your back to them and could
not see them. He would be winking with his eye, and holding up fingers, (teaching with
his fingers.) He would be drawing signs in the sand (speaking with his feet.) But what is
in his heart? Perverseness. He sows discord, causing division. It was the businessman
trying to cheat you, the customer. But, who did you have the contact with. The son of
Belial? NO. His representative, some other turkey in the shop. What mutual agreement or
business contract is there between Christ & Belial? There just isn't any!!!
4) Part - means a part, a portion, a share in both Greek and Aramaic. It is used of a share
or stock in a business. You don't have a complete contract, but a share or stock in a
company. You would not have direct contact with the person, no direct acquaintance with
the person you have an agreement with. A believer does not even have a share with the
unbeliever - no common stock.
5) Agreement - In the Aramaic, means unity in the sense of friendly terms with anyone
as turning towards someone with affection, not necessarily a love affair, but turning
towards someone with affection. The Greek means agreement as a decision arrived at by a
group, much like a treaty - can include the idea of submitting like you would in a
compromise. It is not a total agreement, but it is a compromise. Competitors in business
will have a compromise, an enduring agreement.
II Cor. 6:14-16a Literals according to usage:
14. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; what partnership is there between
righteousness and lawlessness? What friendly acquaintance is there between
light and darkness?
15. What peaceful agreement is there between Christ and Belial? What common
shares are there between a believer and an unbeliever ?
16a. What assent [compromise] is there between the temple of God and devils?
UII Cor. 6:16b
"ye," = we, in many mss, which is correct because it is more inclusive that all of us are a
part of the temple of God. It is the "living God" which is a phrase used in the Bible in
opposition to dead idols.
"temple" - not tabernacle. Tabernacle is used of the physical body. Temple is used of the
body of Christ. We are all members of the body of Christ. That is why the word "we"
(plural) is very important here. Eph. 2:20-22.
UII Cor. 6:16-18
FOS = Ugnome
II Cor. 6:16 - from Lev. 26:11 & 12
II Cor. 6:17 - from Is. 52:11 & Is. 54:7
II Cor. 6:18 - II Sam. 7:14
UII Cor. 6:16
"dwell" = means to inhabit, dwell in, live in. Emphasizes the indwelling presence of God
via His gift of holy spirit. Out of the other four occurrences of this Greek word in the N.T.,
two of them (Rom. 8:11 & II Tim. 1:14) refer to the indwelling of the gift, holy spirit. The
other two are where the word dwells in you and where believing dwells in you. It is
significant that the citation is adapted to our administration. Lev. 26:11 - it is not quoted
verbatim. Here it says, "set," and in Cor. it says "dwell." It had to be adapted to our
administration. Verse 12.
Lev. 26:1 - Look at context - idols and graven images - idolatry is also in the context of
Corinthians. Lev. 26:13, he broke the bands of their yoke with those unbelieving
Egyptians.
UII Cor. 6: 17
Delete, "thing." - "unbeliever," would be supplied by UelipsisU, here - it is the unclean
unbeliever. It is the people they were associating with. It is more than just touching, it is
associating with them.
"receive," - is to receive into one's house, your household, to welcome them into your
home. In the Sept, it is always used for the Hebrew word, where God is to gather and
bring again His own people into their own land. When Jesus accepted the people who
came to the last supper, his disciples, he washed their feet. When you come into the house,
if you are unclean, then you need to have the dust washed off your feet. The word
"unclean" is used of idols, idolatry, devils and homo's.
Is. 52:11a - The context is 52-54 is dealing with Christ's first and second coming.
Especially when you get to Chapter 54, it deals more with his second coming. Is. 54:6,
(Israel was the woman.) gather - I'll welcome you back home.
Ez. 20:34 - talking about Israel. Verse 41 sanctified is to be set apart. Verse 42, He is
going to bring them back. He is going to welcome them home. This is fulfilled in
Rev. 18:4.
In practical application, look at Paul in Acts 19, he taught in the school of Tyranus. In
verse 9, he separated the believers out from the synagogue and taught in the school of
Tyranus, rather than associating with the unbelievers.
UII Cor. 6:18
From II Samuel 7:14 - verse 5 - the issue is building a house for God. The context is the
temple, building it. In Cor., we are the temple.
"almighty," = all powerful. Hebrew = UEl Shaddai. UWay Magazine - Nov/Dec 1981.
It is one of God's great names as far as Him being the believers' resource and supplier of
needs. Everyplace it is used in the N.T. is in Revelation. It is used nine times in
Revelation, except once it is used here in Corinthians. Of all the 9 times it is used in
Revelation, only once is it used in a way similar to here in Corinthians. The other times it
is used of judgment, God's almighty power to judge, and carry out that judgment. That one
exception is Rev. 21:22. This is the new heaven and the new earth. There is no temple in
the third heaven and earth. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
And who is the Body of Christ? We are the temple today. That is why Almighty is used
here. It is the Lord God Almighty - that is His temple - us the believers. Like it tells us in
Ephesians. Look how close he comes here to spilling the beans as to what is coming up in
the Book of Ephesians and does not really get to it. But he is telling them how great of a
privilege it is to be a part of such a wonderful ministry in our day and time. Do not let
your emotions get in the way. And do not go out there and associate with the unbelievers.
We are the temple of God! As God says, "Look, I'm going to dwell in you, I'm going to
walk with you, I'm going to be with you, I'm going to be your God, you are going to be my
people, come out from among them and be separate. You don't have to rely on the
unbeliever for your help. Don't touch those unclean unbelievers. And I will welcome you
in the return, I'll be your Father and you will be my sons and daughters." Who is the
temple? God and the Lamb of God in the third heaven and earth. We are the body of that
Lamb, Jesus Christ. We are the Body of Christ, the temple today.
May 11, 1983 - Thirty-first Corps Night 175
That is why Rev. Cummins calls this the "nail down" section. He used the temple to nail
down just what a privilege it is. So you got to put up with a little pressure in this world.
So what?! You are a part of the temple. How great it is!!
II Cor. 6:16b-18 Literals according to usage: [Capitalize "Temple"]
16b. We are the Temple of the Living God even as God said: 'I will dwell in them and
walk with them; I will be their God and they shall be My people.' [Lev. 26:11 &
12]
17. Wherefore the Lord says: 'Come out from among them [unbelievers] and be
separated and do not associate with the unclean unbelievers.' [Is. 52:11]
And: 'I will gather you and welcome you home.' [Is. 54:7]
18. And: 'I will be your Father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.'
[II Sam. 7:14.] This says the Almighty God.
End of Teaching