2 Corinthians 6:16

2 Corinthians 6:16 is a powerful declaration by the Apostle Paul, emphasizing the sacred identity of believers and the incompatibility of God with anything that opposes Him, particularly idols. This verse serves as the culmination of Paul’s exhortation for the Corinthians to live lives separate from the defilements of the world, reminding them of their unique status as the dwelling place of the living God.

Context

This verse is part of a broader appeal (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1) where Paul urges the Corinthian believers to maintain spiritual purity and separation from unbelievers. He asks a series of rhetorical questions in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, highlighting the irreconcilable differences between righteousness and unrighteousness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, and a believer and an infidel. Verse 16 directly answers the implied question: How can believers engage in such relationships or practices when they are the very temple of God? The Corinthian church faced challenges from the surrounding pagan culture, including participation in idol feasts and moral compromises, making Paul's strong directive highly relevant.

Key Themes

• The Believer as God's Temple: The central theme is the profound truth that individual believers and the collective body of Christ (the church) are now the naos (inner sanctuary) of God. This shifts the concept of God's dwelling from a physical building (like the Jerusalem Temple) to His people. This theme is also explored in 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:19, emphasizing both the corporate and individual sacredness.
• Incompatibility of God and Idols: The rhetorical question, "what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" underscores the absolute opposition between the worship of the one true "living God" and the worship of false gods. There can be no partnership or compromise between the two; they are fundamentally antithetical.
• God's Indwelling Presence: The verse explicitly quotes Old Testament promises where God declares His intention to "dwell in them, and walk in [them]." This highlights God's desire for intimate fellowship and active presence among His people, fulfilling covenant promises found in texts like Leviticus 26:12 and Ezekiel 37:27.
• Covenant Relationship: The concluding phrase, "and I will be their God, and they shall be my people," reaffirms the covenant relationship between God and His chosen ones. This ancient promise signifies a bond of ownership, protection, and reciprocal loyalty, foundational to the identity of believers.

Linguistic Insights

• The Greek word for "temple" here is naos (ναός), referring specifically to the inner sanctuary, the holiest part of the temple where God's presence was believed to reside. This choice of word underscores the profound sacredness and intimacy of believers' relationship with God.
• "Agreement" translates the Greek word symphōnesis (συμφώνησις), which implies harmony, concord, or a shared understanding. Paul uses this word to emphasize that there can be no common ground or harmonious co-existence between the holy God and defiling idols.
• "Idols" comes from the Greek eidōlon (εἴδωλον), meaning an image, phantom, or false god. It denotes anything worshipped in place of the living God.

Practical Application

For believers today, 2 Corinthians 6:16 calls for a life of conscious separation from anything that would defile God's dwelling place within us. This includes:

• Moral Purity: Recognizing our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit should lead to a commitment to sexual purity and avoidance of sinful behaviors.
• Spiritual Discernment: We are called to be discerning about the influences we allow into our lives—relationships, entertainment, philosophies—ensuring they align with God's truth and holiness.
• Undivided Devotion: Just as ancient idols represented competing loyalties, modern "idols" can be anything that takes precedence over God in our hearts: money, success, possessions, or even self. This verse challenges us to maintain undivided devotion to God alone.
• Corporate Holiness: As the collective body of Christ, the church is also God's temple. This calls for corporate holiness, unity, and a commitment to upholding biblical standards in our fellowships.

Living as the temple of the living God is both a privilege and a responsibility, inviting us to walk in a manner worthy of His indwelling presence.