Verse Lens · Concise explanation
2 Corinthians 6:18 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 18. 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse joins God's welcome to a promise of fatherhood and sons and daughters.
Read It With
- 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1
Read 2 Corinthians 6:18 with 6:14–7:1. This verse joins God's welcome to a promise of fatherhood and sons and daughters. The complete unit establishes this movement: Paul forbids binding participation that joins God's temple people to lawlessness, darkness, Belial, unbelief, and idols; scriptural promises name God's dwelling and call the beloved community to holiness.
Why This Verse Appears Here
In its present position, holiness tests which relationships can share the reconciliation Paul seeks. Within that movement, this verse joins God's welcome to a promise of fatherhood and sons and daughters.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 together
Why these verses belong together: Five partnership contrasts, temple identity, Scripture promises, cleansing, and holiness form one disputed but coherent unit.
Verse 14. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Verse 15. 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Verse 16. 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.
Verse 17. 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,
Verse 18. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Verse 1. 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my”
In plain language: Divine family belonging includes both women and men under God's care.
joins God's welcome to a promise of fatherhood and sons and daughters. Divine family belonging includes both women and men under God's care.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
Divine family belonging includes both women and men under God's care.
How It Can Shape Life
- Build communities where all genders share dignity and protection.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 — God's Temple People Pursue Holiness Without Compromising IdolatrySources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 2Co.txt, 6:14–7:1
Open the 2 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 2 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 2 Corinthians chapter print views, 6:14–7:1, including attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open NET 2 Corinthians 6 notes