20160806 Saturday, August 6 2016
2 Corinthians 06: Fellowlabourers Whose Names Are In The Book Of Life

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"My fellowlabourers, whose names are in the Book of Life"

A "yoke" may be defined as "stable gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team." The apostle Paul (see Paul, The Apostle To The World) used the long-established Biblical analogy of a yoke to refer to those, male and female (see What Did The Apostle Paul Really Think Of Women? and The Battle Of The Sexes), who "pulled together" with him as "a "true yokefellow" in preaching the true Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God (see What Gospel Did Jesus Preach? and The Only Political Party That's Going To Survive).

"4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:2-9 KJV)

Paul's preaching and teaching was based solely upon the Holy Scriptures. "Christianity" was not a new or rebel religion - it was a fulfillment of what the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) had declared long before. Note that verse 2 below is a quote of Isaiah 49:8 KJV; "Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages"; see also What Did The Messiah Read From Isaiah That Day?).

"6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 6:8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 6:11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 6:13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged." (2 Corinthians 6:1-13 KJV)

Paul well-understood the corruption danger of being "yoked together with unbelievers" - as did all of the faithful servants of the LORD before him (see the Fact Finder question below). Notice how Paul's quoting of the LORD's own words from Leviticus, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah and 2 Samuel within 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 below gave his appointed apostolic writings the authority for themselves to become the New Testament Holy Scriptures. Paul taught The Word of God, not the word of Paul.

"6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people [Leviticus 26:12, Jeremiah 32:38, Ezekiel 37:27].

6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you [Isaiah 52:11, Ezekiel 20:34,41], 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why did Ezra proclaim the LORD's ban of marriage to idol worshippers - when the Israelites returned from their Babylonian exile that they suffered because of the idolatry of their ancestors?
See Why Did Ezra Ban Marriage To Idol Worshipers?