Unequally
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The term "unequally" is most commonly associated with the biblical phrase "unequally yoked," which appears in the New Testament. This concept is primarily derived from 2 Corinthians 6:14, where the Apostle Paul instructs believers: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?" . This passage serves as a foundational text for understanding the principle of being unequally yoked, particularly in the context of relationships and partnerships.

Biblical Context and Meaning

The imagery of a yoke is drawn from agricultural practices, where a yoke is a wooden beam used to pair two animals together for plowing or pulling a load. For effective work, the animals need to be of similar strength and type. Applying this metaphor spiritually, Paul warns against forming binding relationships with those who do not share the same faith and values, as it can lead to spiritual discord and compromise.

Applications in Relationships

The principle of not being unequally yoked is often applied to marriage, suggesting that a believer should marry someone who shares their Christian faith. This interpretation is supported by the broader biblical teaching on marriage, where unity in faith is seen as essential for a harmonious and God-honoring relationship. The Old Testament also provides examples of the consequences of marrying outside the faith, such as Solomon's marriages to foreign women, which led him astray (1 Kings 11:1-4).

Broader Implications

Beyond marriage, the concept of being unequally yoked extends to other partnerships, including business ventures and close friendships. The underlying principle is that believers should be cautious about forming alliances that could compromise their values or lead them away from their commitment to Christ. The call to holiness and separation from worldly influences is a recurring theme in Scripture, as seen in passages like James 4:4, which warns against friendship with the world.

Theological Considerations

Theologically, the idea of being unequally yoked underscores the distinctiveness of the Christian community. Believers are called to be "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9), set apart for God's purposes. This distinctiveness is not about isolation but about maintaining a clear identity and witness in a world that often opposes Christian values.

Practical Wisdom

While the directive to avoid being unequally yoked is clear, practical wisdom is required in its application. Believers are called to engage with the world and be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), which involves forming relationships with non-believers. However, the caution is against forming partnerships that could lead to spiritual compromise or hinder one's walk with God.

In summary, the biblical teaching on being unequally yoked serves as a guideline for maintaining spiritual integrity and faithfulness in relationships and partnerships. It calls believers to discernment and commitment to their identity in Christ while engaging with the world around them.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(adv.) In an unequal manner.
Greek
2086. heterozugeo -- to be yoked up differently, ie to be ...
... to be yoked up differently, ie to be unequally yoked. Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: heterozugeo Phonetic Spelling: (het-er-od-zoog-eh'-o) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2086.htm - 7k
Library

Again, if any one not Having Charity...
... For the sacrament is equally holy, in virtue of its own excellence, both in those
who are unequally just, and in those who are unequally unjust. Footnotes: ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 2 3 again.htm

Summary of the Second Part of the Foregoing System.
... According to the one, though the divine favours are unequally distributed, no man
is ever required to render an account of more than he receives. ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter ii summary of the.htm

Match-Making.
... "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." The positive command
here is, that Christians should marry only in the Lord. ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xxiii match-making.htm

Communion Broken --Restoration
... Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of GOD."
"Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what fellowship have ...
/.../taylor/union and communion/section ii communion brokenrestoration.htm

A Drama in Five Acts
... whether, again, supposing a person became a Christian after marriage, it was lawful
for him to separate from the person with whom he was unequally yoked; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/a drama in five acts.htm

The Fancies of Manich??us Concerning Matter.
... to night. But in the rest of the elements, both animal and vegetable, in
those the divine power is unequally mingled. And therefore ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter iii the fancies of manichaeus.htm

The Mission of Paul and Silas to Macedonia.
... such ill-assorted connexions upon the religion of a family, should excite the attention
of Christians to the exhortation, "not to be unequally yoked together ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvii the mission of.htm

The Second Epistle to the Corinthians
... This is followed up by an appeal of the apostle to the Corinthians that they should
give him place in their hearts, and should not be unequally yoked together ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the second epistle to the.htm

The People among whom we Labour.
... MUHAMMADANS. All over Northern India"I may say all over India"we find the
followers of Muhammad. They are very unequally distributed. ...
/.../chapter xxviii the people among.htm

Argument. --That God is the Founder of all Things, their Lord and ...
... in a balance, and the groves in scales," [5026] that is, by the sure test of divine
arrangement; and lest its greatness, lying unequally, should easily fall ...
/.../chapter iii argument that god is.htm

Thesaurus
Unequally (1 Occurrence)
...Unequally (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? ...
/u/unequally.htm - 6k

Unequal (5 Occurrences)
... un-e'-kwal: Ezekiel 18:25, 29 for lo' thakhan, "not weighed," "illogical." "Unequally"
in 2 Corinthians 6:14, in the phrase "unequally yoked," heterozugeo, is ...
/u/unequal.htm - 8k

Yoked (10 Occurrences)
... Yoked (10 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? ...
/y/yoked.htm - 9k

Unequaled (2 Occurrences)

/u/unequaled.htm - 7k

Unbelievers (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship
have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ...
/u/unbelievers.htm - 9k

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? ...
/u/unrighteousness.htm - 22k

Unerring (1 Occurrence)

/u/unerring.htm - 6k

Measure (269 Occurrences)
... 23. (vi) To make a measurement or measurements. 24. (vi) To result, or turn out,
on measuring; as, the grain measures well; the pieces measure unequally. 25. ...
/m/measure.htm - 45k

Mismated (1 Occurrence)
... Mismated (1 Occurrence). 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? ...
/m/mismated.htm - 6k

Iniquity (299 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:14 Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship
have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ...
/i/iniquity.htm - 43k

Resources
What does it mean to be unequally yoked? | GotQuestions.org

Is it right for a Christian to date or marry a non-Christian? | GotQuestions.org

What should I be looking for in a wife? What does the Bible say about finding a wife? | GotQuestions.org

Unequally: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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