Paul and relashionships with unbelievers

[sopho]

Paul seems to accept some relashionship with unbelievers in 1 Corinthians 5:11. This is the first letter who wrote to the church of Corinth.

But in 2 Corinthians 6:14 he says that we need to flee from unbelievers, that we have nothing in common with them and he quotes the scripture. If I´m not mistaken, this letter come after the 1 Corinth. Did pablo realized it was wrong to say that they could relate to unbelievers in 1 Corinthians and wanted to fix in his next letter?

[Cindy_Skillman]

I wrote a unto you in my letter—not to be mixing yourselves up with fornicators;— Not at all, meaning the fornicators of this world, or the covetous and extortioners, or idolaters,—else had ye been obliged, in that case, to go out of the world! But, now, I have written unto you not to be mixing yourselves up,—if anyone named a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with such a one as this, not so much, as to be eating together, For what have I to do to be judging them who are without? Do, ye, not judge, them who are within, Whereas, them who are without, God, judgeth? Remove ye the wicked man from among, yourselves.
(1Co 5:9-13 Rotherham)

Be not getting diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? Or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a shrine of God with idols? For, we, are the shrine of a God, that liveth:—even as God hath said—will dwell in them, and walk, and will be their God, and, they, shall be my people. Wherefore come ye forth out of their midst, and be separated,—saith the Lord,—and, one impure, do not touch; and, I, will give you welcome, And will become your Father, and, ye, shall become my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
(2Co 6:14-18 Rotherham)

Looking at these, Sopho, it seems to me that Paul is talking about two different things that might overlap at times, but are ultimately different. Jesus was called a friend of sinners, so it cannot be wrong to be friends with non-believers or Jesus would not have done that. I think that in the first passage, Paul is telling the Corinthians to have nothing to do with a person called a believer – not even to eat with such a one. He was leading up to excommunicating one of the members of the church at Corinth, who was engaged in gross immorality (this same man appears to be repentant and reinstated in 2 Corinthians, btw). It is fine for the Corinthians, Paul points out, to associate with unbelievers who do these things. The world is full of such people and to isolate yourself from them, you would have to leave the world!

Paul is contrasting the treatment he wants the Corinthians to give to the man sleeping with his mother-in-law, yet calling himself a believer – with the treatment he permits them to give to unbelievers who are also sinners. They are not to eat with the “believer,” but they may eat with the unbeliever though he might be guilty of sin too. They can associate with unbelievers. Factoring in Jesus’ example, they can be friends with unbelievers.

But then here is Paul saying in 2 Corinthians, “Touch not the impure one.” What can that mean? Actually, it only says “touch not the impure,” and other translations render it “the unclean thing.” This passage is talking about idolatry, and I think it’s important to take it in that context. The Corinthians are not to become involved in the world of idolatry – not to marry into it, not to make partnerships with people in that world. They have nothing in common. Being yoked together means working, living life together. When oxen are yoked together they must both go in the same direction. The believers and the idolaters are going in different directions. We know they can be friends (because of Jesus) but it seems to me Paul is against more serious attachments such as marriages and business partnerships. I think this is good advice. Such associations can work sometimes, but they make life very difficult and more often than not, they hamper you from following God.

In Corinth, much of social life was centered around the idol temples, and Paul has already warned the believers (in 1 Corinthians) to come out from that and separate themselves from the world. He agrees with their objection (in 1 Cor) that the idols are nothing in the world, but tells them that idols are associated with demons and he wants them to have no association with demons. They are not to participate with unbelievers in the social activities of their world – centered around idol worship.

That’s my take on it. I don’t think Paul contradicts himself here, and even less that Jesus was sinning by associating with unbelievers and sinners. Because of this, I think we have to take the 1 Cor and the 2 Cor passage as a matter of degree. It’s okay to be friends with sinners but not to become a part of their world in the sense of becoming like them. The church is separate, special, holy unto the Lord. We mustn’t get involved in the idolatries of the world. Here in the USA, I think a large part of our own idolatry is consumerism – buying the latest version of everything. Many of us live for that, and it is idolatry, in my opinion. There are many kinds of idolatry, but when our hearts are with the things of the world and not with God, then I think that’s the essence of idolatry.

I hope this helps, Sopho

Love, Cindy