What Does Paul Mean by Unequally Yoked?

What Does Paul Mean by Unequally Yoked?

In the epistle(letter) to the Corinthians, Paul uses a rather strange term. As he writes, "Be ye(people of the church of Corinth) not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV). In other translations, such as AMP & NASB1995, "ἑτεροζυγοῦντες" is translated as unequally bound. We also see mismatched in versions such as EXB, HCSB, NASB, and the NRSVA.

The point Paul seems to be getting at is that a Christian should not be in a marital relationship with a nonbeliever for this will cause issues. As he notes, "...for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV). For with these fellowships, conflict arises and they are thus unfruitful. Some will try to say that they try to convert someone through marriage; however, if this is unsuccessful this will lead to the issue Paul describes and seems like an unlikely outcome. 

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Image by Estúdio Bloom