"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers" (vs 14). The verb is an agricultural term that refers to yoking a plow to two unequal kinds of animals, like an ox and a donkey. Obviously the ox would be unable to do its job if it is inhibited by the much weaker donkey. Paul was showing that he did not want the Christians in the Corinthian church to be inhibited from serving God by associating with non-Christians.
This command actually goes all the way back to Deuteronomy, when God was preparing his chosen people to take possession of the land he was giving them. He is very careful to instruct them not to intermarry with foreigners, because he knew that this would cause the Israelites to turn away from following him, and serve other gods. "But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and burn their carved images with fire" (Deut. 7:5).
Paul's warning to the Corinthians is for the same reason. He knows that if they begin to associate with unbelievers, they will turn away from God as well. They are not necessarily to break altars and burn images, but they are to reject all other gods.
Paul's warning is just as strong for us. If we associate ourselves with unbelievers, then we will begin to follow their idols. But we have been set apart as holy. We are to serve the one true God, and no other. So for Christians, there should always be a necessary tension between us and the culture we live in.
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