Understanding the Doctrine of Common: God's Design for Set-Apart Living

What is common?

In biblical theology, 'common' denotes that which is not set apart for sacred use, contrasting with the concept of holiness.

The term appears in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, where Paul urges believers to separate from worldly uncleanness, distinguishing God’s holy people from what is 'common' or profane. Here, 'common' refers to things associated with ordinary, unregenerate life—opposed to the sanctified state of those called into fellowship with Christ. This distinction underscores the biblical emphasis on separation from sin and consecration to God’s purposes.

Understanding this contrast helps clarify calls to holiness in Scripture, as believers are called to leave behind what is common and embrace lives transformed by Christ’s redemptive work. This principle bridges to broader themes of sanctification and spiritual identity in Christian practice.

Common and the Call to Holiness

In 2 Corinthians 6:17–18, Paul starkly contrasts the believer’s holy identity with the uncleanness of what is 'common,' calling for radical separation from worldly corruption.

Paul writes, 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you' (2 Cor. 6:17), explicitly linking 'common' (unclean) with the need for believers to distance themselves from profane influences. This 'common' state represents the ordinary, unregenerate condition opposed to the sanctified life of those united to Christ. By promising, 'I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters' (2 Cor. 6:18), Paul underscores that believers are now part of God’s holy household, requiring them to embody this transformed identity through ethical and spiritual purity.

The passage demands active, intentional holiness—believers must daily reject what is 'common' and embrace the sanctification God initiates. This separation is not legalistic isolation but a response to union with Christ, whose redemptive work empowers believers to live distinctively holy lives. Such a call to holiness bridges to broader themes of spiritual identity and sanctification in Christian practice.

Ancient and Modern Understandings of Common

The biblical concept of 'common' reflects ancient distinctions between sacred and secular realms, with roots in both Hebrew and Greco-Roman thought.

In ancient Israel, 'common' (Hebrew: chol) denoted what was not consecrated to God, such as objects or spaces outside the tabernacle's sacred boundaries, while in Greco-Roman contexts, 'koinos' described items shared by all or lacking special dedication, often carrying a negative connotation when contrasted with the divine. These frameworks shaped New Testament authors' use of 'common' to emphasize believers' radical separation from worldly corruption, as seen in Paul's exhortations to holiness.

Modern theology often reinterprets 'common' as a call to ethical holiness rather than mere physical separation, focusing on internal transformation over external boundaries. Recognizing these ancient roots clarifies how Scripture's demands for holiness intersect with both cultural context and timeless spiritual principles.

Why common Matters Today

In today’s context, the biblical call to avoid what is 'common' challenges believers to navigate cultural norms while upholding distinctively holy lives.

Paul’s exhortation in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18—'Come out from among them and be separate... Touch no unclean thing'—highlights the tension between cultural conformity and ethical distinctiveness. Believers must discern when societal 'common' practices conflict with God’s standards, such as moral compromises or idolatrous values. This requires intentional boundaries to preserve spiritual purity without isolating from the world.

Practically, avoiding the 'common' demands daily examination of habits, media, and relationships for profane influences. By clinging to 2 Corinthians 6:18—'I will be a Father to you...'—believers embrace their identity as God’s holy household, pursuing sanctification through Christ’s redemptive work rather than legalistic separation.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of the biblical distinction between the 'common' and the 'holy,' consider how Exodus 19:6 and 1 Peter 1:15-16 expand this theological framework.

Exodus 19:6 calls Israel to be 'a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,' while 1 Peter 1:15-16 urges believers to 'be holy, for I am holy,' directly linking sanctification to separation from the 'common.' Exploring these passages alongside related terms like 'sanctification' and 'holy' will clarify how God's people are called to embody distinctiveness in their identity and practice.