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1 Corinthians 3:16

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¶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Know ye {G1492} not {G3756} that {G3754} ye are {G2075} the temple {G3485} of God {G2316}, and {G2532} that the Spirit {G4151} of God {G2316} dwelleth {G3611} in {G1722} you {G5213}?

Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?

Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV)

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Commentary

In this verse, Paul addresses the Corinthian church, which was struggling with divisions and immaturity. He uses a powerful metaphor to remind them of their true identity and significance in God's plan.

  • Historical and Cultural Context: The concept of a "temple of God" would have been very familiar to both Jewish and Gentile converts. For Jews, it pointed to the Jerusalem Temple as the sacred dwelling place of God's presence. For Gentiles, temples were central to pagan worship. Paul redefines this concept dramatically, locating God's dwelling not in a physical building but in the community of believers.
  • Key Themes and Messages:
    • Divine Indwelling: The most central message is that God, through His Spirit, actually resides within believers. This presence is not external but internal and personal.
    • Sacred Identity: By calling them the "temple of God," Paul elevates the status of the believers. They are holy, set apart for God's presence and purpose.
    • Unity and Responsibility: While the verse uses the plural "ye" (referring initially to the church body in Corinth), the principle extends to individual believers (1 Corinthians 6:19). This shared identity as God's dwelling place underscores the call to unity and the responsibility to live lives worthy of His presence.
  • Linguistic Insights: The Greek word for "temple" used here is naos (ναός), which specifically refers to the inner sanctuary, the most holy place where the deity was believed to dwell, rather than the entire temple complex (hieron - ἱερόν). This emphasizes that believers are the very dwelling place of God's presence. The plural pronoun "ye" (ὑμεῖς - humeis) highlights that the collective body of believers in Corinth is this temple, though the truth applies individually as well.
  • Cross-References:
  • Practical Application: Recognizing ourselves and fellow believers as the temple of God should profoundly impact how we live and interact. It calls us to holiness, purity, and respect for ourselves and others. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining unity within the body of Christ, as divisions defile the temple (as discussed in the surrounding verses). Our lives are meant to be places where God's presence is honored and evident.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19 (103 votes)

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

  • Ezekiel 36:27 (83 votes)

    And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].

  • 2 Corinthians 6:16 (65 votes)

    And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  • Romans 8:11 (62 votes)

    But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

  • Ephesians 2:21 (54 votes)

    In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

  • Ephesians 2:22 (54 votes)

    In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

  • John 14:17 (52 votes)

    [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.