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This is a composite quotation from several O.T. Scriptures. The passages cited are
Lev. 26: 12; Ezek. 37: 26, 27; Isa. 52: 11, and II Sam. 7: 14. There is also an
allusion to Isa. 43: 6. At first sight, these citations may seem to be quoted at random
without much reference to context, but an examination of the passages as they stand in
II Cor. 6: will shew an underlying unity and purpose, which we should, of course,
expect in any part of the Word of God.
The O.T. quotations in II Cor. 6: 16-18.
A | 16. YE ARE--The temple of the living God.
B | 16. I WILL--Dwell, Walk, Be their God.
C | THEY SHALL BE--My people.
A | 17. BE YE--separate. Touch not.
B | 17, 18. I WILL--Receive. Be a Father.
C | 18. YE SHALL BE--My sons and daughter.
When we have seen this arrangement of subject-matter, we cannot possibly entertain
the idea of mere haphazard quotation. Rather, we find that in this orderly presentation of
truth, we have set forth the very teaching to which we have already alluded, represented
by the words, "Having . . . . . let us". Here, however, the basis and incentive is not what
we have, but deeper still--what we are: "Ye are the temple of the living God."
"Ye are."--In the first epistle to the Corinthians the truth that the believer is the
temple of God had already been made known:--
"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? For ye are bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's"
(I Cor. 6: 19, 20).
Here are the same argument, the same basis, and the same approach, as are found in
II Cor. 6: 16 - 7: 1. Here the believer, being the temple of God, is urged to glorify God
in body and in spirit, while in II Cor. 6: 16 - 7: 1, on the same basis, there is to be the
cleansing of the flesh and spirit from all filthiness--an illuminating comment upon what
glorifying God in body and in spirit entails.
"I will."--Before God could dwell in the midst of Israel a sanctuary had to be made,
so that the holiness of the Lord might be uncompromised by His condescension:--
"Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exod. 25: 8).
This is a promise, the fullness and blessedness of which we do not yet realize. If God
shall, in any sense, dwell and walk with His people, then the promise becomes a firm
basis upon which the exhortation can rest: "Having therefore . . . . . let us cleanse
ourselves." There is, moreover, a prophetic anticipation of that glorious day when in the
new heavens and earth shall resound the voice, saying:--