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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Corinthians 3:16–17.
Here the apostle resumes his argument and exhortation, founding it on his former allusion, You are God's building, Co1 3:9, and here, Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile (corrupt and destroy) the temple of God, him shall God destroy (the same word is in the original in both clauses); for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. It looks from other parts of the epistle, where the apostle argues to the very same purport (see Co1 6:13-20), as if the false teachers among the Corinthians were not only loose livers, but taught licentious doctrines, and what was particularly fitted to the taste of this lewd city, on the head of fornication. Such doctrine was not to be reckoned among hay and stubble, which would be consumed while the person who laid them on the foundation escaped the burning; for it tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the church, which was a building erected for God, and consecrated to him, and therefore should be kept pure and holy. Those who spread principles of this sort would provoke God to destroy them. Note, Those who spread loose principles, that have a direct tendency to pollute the church of God, and render it unholy and unclean, are likely to bring destruction on themselves. It may be understood also as an argument against their discord and factious strifes, division being the way to destruction. But what I have been mentioning seems to be the proper meaning of the passage: Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? It may be understood of the church of Corinth collectively, or of every single believer among them; Christian churches are temples of God. He dwells among them by his Holy Spirit. They are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph 2:22. Every Christian is a living temple of the living God. God dwelt in the Jewish temple, took possession of it, and resided in it, by that glorious cloud that was the token of his presence with that people. So Christ by his Spirit dwells in all true believers. The temple was devoted and consecrated to God, and set apart from every common to a holy use, to the immediate service of God. So all Christians are separated from common uses, and set apart for God and his service. They are sacred to him - a very good argument this against all fleshly lusts, and all doctrines that give countenance to them. If we are the temples of God, we must do nothing that shall alienate ourselves from him, or corrupt and pollute ourselves, and thereby unfit ourselves for his use; and we must hearken to no doctrine nor doctor that would seduce us to any such practices. Note, Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean both in heart and conversation. We should heartily abhor, and carefully avoid, what will defile God's temple, and prostitute what ought to be sacred to him.
Historical interpretation
Two Centuries of Reception
4 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
And "whosoever shall defile the temple of God, him shall God defile.".
And not only does he (the apostle) acknowledge our bodies to be a temple, but even the temple of Christ, saying thus to the Corinthians, "Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? "
But "if any man defile the temple of God, he shall be himself destroyed" -of course, by the God of the temple. If you threaten an avenger, you threaten us with the Creator.
Paul says this in order to prick the consciences of those who have corrupted their bodies through evil living, especially the man who was having an affair with his father’s wife..
"If any man destroy the Temple of God, him will God destroy." Dost thou mark the sweeping vehemence of his words? However, so long as the person is unknown, what is spoken is not so invidious, all dividing among themselves the fear of rebuke.
"Him will God destroy," that is, will cause him to perish. And this is not the word of one denouncing a curse, but of one that prophesieth.
"For the Temple of God is holy:" but he that hath committed fornication is profane.
Then, in order that he might not seem to spend his earnestness upon that one, in saying, "for the Temple of God is holy," he addeth, "which ye are."
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Summary
1 Corinthians 3:17 delivers a solemn warning regarding the sanctity of the Christian community, which the Apostle Paul powerfully identifies as "the temple of God." This verse underscores the severe divine judgment awaiting anyone who intentionally corrupts, defiles, or brings ruin upon this sacred collective body of believers, emphasizing that the church's inherent holiness, derived from God's indwelling Spirit, demands protection and reverence.
Context
Literary Context
1 Corinthians 3:17 is the culmination of Paul's architectural metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3. He begins by addressing the divisions and rivalries within the Corinthian church, which he likens to spiritual immaturity (milk, not solid food) in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. He then transitions to the metaphor of building, asserting that he, as an apostle, laid the foundational truth of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Subsequent teachers or leaders are "builders" who must be careful with the materials they use, as their work will be tested by fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Immediately preceding our verse, 1 Corinthians 3:16 explicitly states, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" This crucial declaration clarifies that the "temple" is not a physical edifice but the collective body of believers, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Verse 17 then serves as a forceful warning against any action that would violate the sanctity of this spiritual dwelling.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Corinthian church was plagued by numerous issues, including factionalism based on allegiance to different leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas), spiritual pride, and moral laxity. In the Greco-Roman world, temples were revered as sacred spaces, the dwelling places of deities, and any defilement of them was considered a grave offense, often punishable by death or severe penalties. For Jewish converts, the concept of the Temple in Jerusalem was central to their worship and identity, representing God's dwelling among His people. Paul redefines this concept, shifting the focus from a physical structure to the community of believers. By calling the church "the temple of God," Paul elevates its status to the most sacred entity on earth, emphasizing that God's presence now resides within His gathered people. This redefinition would have profoundly challenged the Corinthians' worldly wisdom and their tendency to treat the church as a mere human institution susceptible to their divisive behaviors.
Key Themes
1 Corinthians 3:17 contributes significantly to several major themes within 1 Corinthians and broader Pauline theology. The most prominent theme is The Corporate Temple of God, highlighting that the church, as the collective body of Christ, is God's dwelling place through the Holy Spirit. This concept underscores the profound Holiness and Sanctity of the Christian community; because God's Spirit indwells it, the church is consecrated and set apart for His purposes, demanding reverence and protection. Consequently, the verse introduces the theme of Divine Judgment, particularly against those who would corrupt or harm this sacred temple. The severity of the warning — "him shall God destroy" — emphasizes God's zealous protection of His dwelling place. Implicitly, the verse also calls for Unity and Purity within the body of Christ, warning against the very divisions and moral compromises that were afflicting the Corinthian church, which Paul addresses throughout the letter, urging them to be "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:10.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This single Greek verb is used twice in the verse, first translated as "defile" and then as "destroy" in the KJV. From G5351, it means to shrivel, wither, spoil, or ruin, especially figuratively by moral influences, to deprave. Its repetition highlights a direct, reciprocal judgment: those who corrupt God's temple will themselves be corrupted or brought to ruin by God. This emphasizes the severity and just nature of God's response to actions that undermine the sanctity of His dwelling.
This term refers specifically to the inner sanctuary of a temple, the dwelling place of the deity, as opposed to hieron (ἱερόν), which refers to the temple complex including outer courts. Paul's choice of naós underscores the intimate and sacred nature of God's dwelling within the community of believers. It signifies that the church is not merely a gathering place, but the very holy of holies where God's presence resides.
Meaning sacred, pure, morally blameless, or ceremonially consecrated. This word describes the inherent nature of the temple of God. Because God Himself is holy, His dwelling place, the church, is also set apart, consecrated, and pure. This holiness is not earned by the church but is bestowed upon it by God's indwelling Spirit, making any defilement a direct affront to God's character.
Verse Breakdown
"If any man defile the temple of God"
This clause introduces the premise for divine judgment. "Any man" (G1536, eí tis) refers to anyone, whether a leader, teacher, or ordinary member, whose actions, doctrines, or behavior corrupt, spoil, or ruin the integrity, unity, or purity of the church. The "temple of God" (G3485, naós G2316, theós) explicitly refers to the collective body of believers, as established in the preceding verse. The defilement could manifest as promoting false doctrine, causing schisms, engaging in immoral practices that scandalize the community, or undermining the spiritual health and witness of the church.
"him shall God destroy"
This is the severe consequence for defiling God's temple. The verb "destroy" (G5351, phtheírō) is the same Greek word used for "defile," indicating a reciprocal judgment. God Himself (G2316, theós) will bring ruin, corruption, or severe consequences upon the individual who defiles His church. This "destruction" may not necessarily imply eternal damnation, but rather a divine judgment that could involve disqualification from ministry, loss of influence, severe temporal consequences, or even physical death, as seen in other New Testament examples of divine discipline within the church.
"for the temple of God is holy"
This phrase provides the divine rationale for the severe judgment. The particle "for" (G1063, gár) introduces the reason. The "temple of God" (G3485, naós G2316, theós) is inherently "holy" (G40, hágios), meaning it is set apart, consecrated, and pure because God's Spirit dwells within it. Any act of defilement is an attack on God's own sanctity and His presence among His people, thus warranting His righteous indignation and protective judgment.
"which [temple] ye are"
This final clause, using the pronoun "which" (G3748, hóstis) and the emphatic "ye" (G5210, hymeîs) followed by "are" (G2075, esté), unequivocally reiterates and confirms the identity of the temple. Paul leaves no room for misinterpretation: the Corinthian believers, as a collective body, constitute this sacred temple. This direct identification makes the warning intensely personal and corporately binding, emphasizing their collective responsibility for the temple's sanctity.
Literary Devices
Paul's communication in 1 Corinthians 3:17 is rich with literary techniques. The primary device is Metaphor, where the church, the community of believers, is powerfully depicted as "the temple of God." This metaphor transforms an abstract spiritual reality into a tangible, relatable image, drawing on the profound reverence associated with ancient temples. The use of the same Greek root, phtheírō, for both "defile" and "destroy" exemplifies Reciprocal Judgment or Lex Talionis (law of retaliation), implying that the punishment fits the crime: those who corrupt will themselves be corrupted or ruined by God. This creates a powerful sense of divine justice. Furthermore, the verse functions as a strong Warning or Admonition, building upon the rhetorical question "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?" from 1 Corinthians 3:16. The repetition of "the temple of God" throughout 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 serves as Emphasis, underscoring the critical importance and sacredness of the church's identity.
Theological and Thematic Connections
1 Corinthians 3:17 profoundly shapes our understanding of the church's nature and God's relationship with His people in the New Covenant. It reveals that God's dwelling place is no longer confined to a physical building but resides within the community of believers, making the church a living, spiritual temple. This elevates the church's status to a sacred entity, imbued with God's presence and holiness. Consequently, any act that harms, divides, or corrupts the church is not merely an offense against people but a direct affront to God Himself, prompting His righteous and protective judgment. The verse underscores God's zealous commitment to the purity and integrity of His dwelling place, demonstrating that He will actively defend His temple from internal and external defilement. This theological truth serves as a foundational principle for ecclesiology, emphasizing the church's divine origin, sacred purpose, and the solemn responsibility of its members to uphold its sanctity.
Reflection and Application
1 Corinthians 3:17 serves as a timeless and sobering reminder for every believer and every local church. It calls us to a profound reverence for the community of faith, recognizing it not as a mere human organization, but as the very dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This understanding should profoundly impact how we participate in, speak about, and relate to the church. It compels us to actively guard against anything that would defile its holiness—be it divisive attitudes, false teachings, ungodly behaviors, or neglect of spiritual disciplines. We are called to be builders who contribute "gold, silver, precious stones" to the temple, fostering unity, sound doctrine, love, and purity, rather than "wood, hay, stubble" that corrupts. The warning of divine judgment underscores the seriousness of our responsibility to uphold the sanctity of God's presence among us, urging us to pursue peace, holiness, and genuine fellowship, knowing that God Himself is zealous for His temple's integrity.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "destroy" mean in this context, and does it imply eternal damnation?
The Greek word translated as "destroy" (G5351, phtheírō) is the same word translated as "defile." It means to corrupt, spoil, or ruin. In this context, "him shall God destroy" refers to a severe divine judgment or consequence upon the individual who actively works to corrupt or ruin the church, the temple of God. It does not necessarily imply eternal damnation, though it can certainly refer to a judgment that leads to ruin in this life or disqualification from ministry. Examples of such divine discipline in the New Testament include physical illness or even death (as seen in Acts 5:1-11 with Ananias and Sapphira, or 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 regarding unworthy communion), or a loss of spiritual effectiveness and influence. The judgment is reciprocal: those who corrupt God's temple will themselves be corrupted or brought to ruin by God.
Is this verse primarily about individual sin or corporate sin within the church?
While individual sin certainly impacts the collective, this verse primarily addresses actions that corrupt or defile the corporate body of Christ, the church, which Paul explicitly calls "the temple of God." The "ye are" in 1 Corinthians 3:17 is plural, referring to the Corinthian community as a whole. The "defilement" here relates to actions like promoting false teaching, creating divisions, or undermining the unity and holiness of the gathered believers. Paul later addresses individual believers' bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, but 1 Corinthians 3:17 focuses on the corporate sanctity of the church.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
1 Corinthians 3:17 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who is both the foundation and the very essence of God's temple. Paul explicitly states in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Thus, the holiness and integrity of the church, as God's temple, are entirely dependent upon its connection to Christ. He is the chief cornerstone upon whom the entire spiritual edifice is built (Ephesians 2:20), and it is through Him that believers are "built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22). The church's holiness is not self-derived but is imputed and imparted by Christ, who sanctifies and cleanses it "with the washing of water by the word" (Ephesians 5:26) that He might present it to Himself "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). The warning against defiling the temple, therefore, is ultimately a warning against dishonoring Christ, the Head of the church (Colossians 1:18), for it is His body, purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The divine judgment promised in 1 Corinthians 3:17 reflects Christ's zealous protection of His bride and His unwavering commitment to her purity and sanctity.