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Begin wherever your curiosity leads. The studies will be here when you’re ready. When I shared my first Matthew study on Facebook today, I mentioned that I planned to post daily, though I might not share every post on Facebook. As I continue setting up this blog, I’ve realized that what matters most to me is making my past studies available for anyone who wants to explore them. For now, I’ll be adding posts to my heart’s content as I work through those studies. Some days that may mean one post; other days it may mean several. I’ll continue reading through and preparing each one before sharing it. There is no need to keep up with everything as it appears. This blog is becoming a place you can browse at your own pace—begin with a book, a question, or a study that interests you, and follow from there. The Bible Books page gathers studies by book, while Study Threads helps connect topics that travel through more than one book. The labels on individual posts also bring related material to...
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83. Ten Commandments: To Whom Are We Joined?

God’s Image Study • Commandment 7: You Shall Not Commit Adultery

As we examine unfaithfulness toward God, Paul’s words bring an important relationship into view: joining ourselves to another involves participation and union.

First Corinthians 6 places two contrasting unions beside one another—joining a prostitute and joining the Lord.

Members of Christ

Paul begins by identifying the believers’ bodies as members of Christ. He then asks whether those members should be taken and made members of a prostitute. His answer rejects that joining. Read 1 Corinthians 6:15.

The relationship already established with Christ matters to what follows. Paul is asking what is being done with what belongs to him.

The Two Become One

Verse 16 describes the person joined to a prostitute as one body with her. Paul supports his statement with Scripture:

“THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”

— 1 Corinthians 6:16, LSB, excerpt

The capitalized words refer back to Genesis 2:24. The language of joining and becoming one must remain connected. Read Genesis 2:24.

In verses 16–17, κολλώμενος — kollōmenos, from κολλάω — kollaō (G2853), describes being joined. The same form appears on both sides of the comparison, but the relationship and outcome differ:

  • Joined to the prostitute: one body.

  • Joined to the Lord: one spirit.

Examine 1 Corinthians 6:16–17 in Greek.

The question is therefore not simply whether someone claims attachment to Christ. To whom are they actually joining themselves?

Babylon, the Harlot

Revelation 17 presents Babylon through the figure of a richly adorned woman. Her clothing, gold, precious stones, and pearls stand alongside a cup filled with abominations and uncleanness. The passage also describes her involvement with earthly kings and her violence against the saints and witnesses of Jesus. Read Revelation 17:1–6.

Her outward appearance must be read alongside what she carries and does.

Placed beside Paul’s contrast, this gives our study a way to examine spiritual unfaithfulness: attachment to the harlot involves participation in what opposes faithfulness to God.

Come Out of Her

Revelation makes the instruction explicit:

“Come out of her, my people”

— Revelation 18:4, LSB, excerpt

The verse explains the purpose: separation from participation in her sins and from receiving her plagues. The issue reaches into shared conduct and its consequences. Read Revelation 18:3–5.

Paul likewise follows his contrast with instruction concerning the body as a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit received from God. Those addressed belong to God and are to glorify Him in their bodies. Read 1 Corinthians 6:18–20.

As we continue, we can ask: Does the union I am maintaining express faithfulness to God, or draw me into participation with what He calls me to leave?

Threads to Follow

  • Competing invitations: Compare Wisdom’s invitation with the woman Folly’s invitation. Proverbs 9.

  • Teaching and seduction: Examine the warnings addressed to the churches. Revelation 2:14–22.

  • Bride and harlot: Keep their distinct relationships, conduct, and outcomes before us as the study develops.

The books were opened…

🌿 By Maria Emilia

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