The two great divisions of mankind insisted upon here at the beginning of the list are

not those of rich and poor, high and low, Jew and Gentile, but of believer and unbeliever.

It is vain to think of practical sanctification where believer and unbeliever become yoked

together. This does not mean, of course, that no relationships can be entered into, for

then as the apostle has said, "ye must needs go out of the world". As fellow-creatures we

may help all men, and transact the affairs of daily life with them, whatever their attitude

to God. If this were not so, the baker, the 'bus-driver, and indeed, all who compose the

social fabric of life would be debarred from intercourse with the believer unless they, too,

were of like precious faith. This relationship, however, is very different from that of

being "unequally yoked together". This distinction is found in John 17: 15:--

The Christian's true position is "in the world" (John 17: 11), but not "of it".

Fellowship._-The word translated "fellowship" is metoche, the related word metochos

being rendered "fellow" (Heb. 1: 9), "partaker" (Heb. 3: 1, 14, 6: 4 and 12: 8), and

"partner" (Luke 5: 7). The apostle's teaching clearly shows that any dealings between the

Lord's people and the unsaved that can be regarded as the formation of a "partnership"

are not in accord with the principle of sanctification and do not lead to the full end--the

perfecting of holiness.

Communion (koinonia).--The basis of this word is the idea of having something in

common. It is four times translated "fellowship" in I John 1: 3-7, where we find again

the alternatives of "light and darkness" as in the passage before us. There can be no

common ground between light and darkness; they are extreme opposites and cannot exist

Concord (sumphonesis).--This gives our word "symphony", as applied to a musical

composition, the word sumphonia being actually translated "music" in Luke 15: 25.

Instead of harmony, nothing but discord will sound in the ears of the Lord if we allow the

combination of which the apostle speaks, and only an uncertain sound will go forth to

Part (meris).--If we remember that this word is translated "partaker" in Col. 1: 12,

and that the almost synonymous meros is used in John 13: 8, no additional comment is

Agreement (sugkatathesis).--By pure etymology, this is "a putting down together

with", and by usage and association is linked with the casting of a vote by putting

together in the same urn the tickets of those holding the same opinion. It will be seen that

the "agreement" questioned here in II Cor. 6: 16 is a voluntary participation implying

something in common. And what common ground can there be between the temple of

God and idols? One is of the truth; the other, of the lie.