ISB ~ 2 Corinthians 6 v16 - 18

A chain of Scripture passages that remind readers of their dignity in Christ and their duty to remain pure. The citations are from Ezek 37:27, Is 52:11, Ezek 20:34, and a combination of 2 Sam 7:14 with Is 43:6.

• These texts are connected with the founding of the New Covenant and God’s effort to rescue Israel from the idolatry and impurity of the Gentiles. Paul sees this as the construction of a new temple out of the men and women God gathers around the Messiah. In ancient Israel, the sacredness of the sanctuary was radically incompatible with the profanities of idolatry, and indeed the entire sacrificial system of the Temple was put in place to destroy Israel’s affection for idols. The same principles apply to the living sanctuary of believers. See essays:Sacrifice in the Old Testament at Lev 9 and Shun Immorality, Shun Idolatry at 1 Cor 6.