Some verses are used so often in one sense that their meaning becomes restricted to that sense and that sense alone.  Take for example Paul’s admonition in 2Corinthians 6:14:

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

While this may not be true of all people, my experience is to hear this verse quoted in regards to whom a Christian can marry.  And, my experience is that it is almost ONLY ever quoted in this sense.  Maybe, on rare occasion, have I heard this verse also applied to business dealings.  But that seems to be about the extent of it.  So, have we (or at least I) heard this verse cited in one restricted sense so often that I am in danger of missing its fuller sense?  What is its fuller sense?

Paul’s context is definitely not limited to believers not marrying unbelievers (although this be true).  The passage reads,

2Co 6:11-18 ESV We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

We see, at the very least, that Paul references a believer’s yoking, partnering, fellowshiping, concord (or harmony), sharing, and agreeing with unbelievers.  This list is really all-encompassing for the different relationships one may have with another.  Ultimately, Paul is teaching the Corinthians that they should not enter into covenant with unbelievers.  The application to marriage and business partnerships are obvious (hence the most frequently referenced).  But another covenant relationship is often missed:  education.

Jesus teaches quite clearly in Luke 6:40 the impact of education in a child’s life:

Luk 6:40 NIV A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

According to Christ, the fully trained student will be like his teacher.  A teacher, by the nature of his job, will impose his worldview on the student.  This being true, how can it be appropriate for a father to enter into covenant with a teacher, tutor, or school to educate his child when that teacher, tutor, or school is an unbeliever, lawless, a disciple of Belial, a temple of idolatry?  Furthermore, the Christian teacher in the pagan, government school is really no better off, and no justification for entering into covenant with that school.  The teacher is restricted by the curriculum he uses.  The fully trained student will be like his teacher because of what his teacher teaches him.  The Christian teacher is still required to teach a godless curriculum, leading the student to grow into the godlessness taught by his teacher.  Only by the grace of God and the Godly influence of his parents and church can this be overcome.  But it doesn’t have to be, if we parents would heed Paul’s words to the Corinthians, our children would never be under the influence of godless teachers, schools, or school curricula.  By yoking ourselves to Godly educators, we can raise up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord throughout their whole education experience.

The fuller sense of Paul’s words must reach us.  As single Christians, we must not enter into a marriage covenant with an unbeliever; as Christian businessmen, we must not enter into business partnerships with unbelievers; as Christian parents, we must not partner with unbelievers to educate our children; and as older Christians, we must educate the younger to see the fullest sense of this passage and apply it to all of their lives and to do so for subsequent generations.