1 Corinthians 3:16 - Meaning and Application

Here the apostle takes up his argument and warning again, building on what he had already said, “You are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). He now says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” If anyone destroys or corrupts God’s temple, God will destroy that person too. The same word is used in both parts of the warning. God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

From other parts of the letter, especially (1 Corinthians 6:13-20), it seems that the false teachers among the Corinthians were not only living loosely, but were also teaching sinful ideas. This was likely especially attractive in a city known for sexual immorality. Such teaching should not be treated as harmless “wood, hay, and straw” that will simply burn away while the builder is saved. It would corrupt, stain, and damage the church, which is a building made for God and set apart for him. So those who spread this kind of teaching were provoking God’s judgment on themselves.

This warning may also apply to their quarrels and divisions, since division leads toward ruin. But the main sense seems clear: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” This can refer to the church in Corinth as a whole, or to each believer there. Christian churches are God’s temples. He lives among them by his Holy Spirit, and they are built together as a dwelling place for God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).

Every Christian is also a living temple of the living God. God dwelt in the Jewish temple and marked it as his own by the glorious cloud, the sign of his presence among that people. In the same way, Christ now dwells in all true believers by his Spirit. The temple was devoted to God and set apart from common use for his service. So all Christians are separated from ordinary uses and set apart for God’s service. They belong to him.

That is a strong reason to turn away from fleshly lusts and from any teaching that encourages them. If we are God’s temples, we must not do anything that pulls us away from him or stains us and makes us unfit for his use. We must also refuse any doctrine, and anyone teaching it, that tries to lead us into such sin. Christians are holy in name and profession, and they should be clean in heart and conduct. We should deeply hate and carefully avoid anything that would defile God’s temple or make sacred things common.