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1 Corinthians 3:16 – We Are God’s Temple

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Will

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Truth to Learn

The body of Christ (the church) is the Temple of God.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “know” is eidō, which means “to see.” However, it is often used metaphorically to mean “to perceive,” that is “to know.” It is written here as s second person, plural verb. Therefore it means “you (plural) know.”

Eimi is the verb translated “you are.” It is written as a second person plural verb meaning “you (plural) are.”

“Temple” is from naos, which literally means “a dwelling place.” There is another word translated “temple.” It is hieron, which refers to the entire temple complex. Naos, however refers specifically to the central, most significant portion of the temple. In the Jewish temple, the naos was the building that housed the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). This is where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were located, and it was at the Mercy Seat where God was said to dwell.

The word translated “dwell” is oikeō, meaning “to reside” or “to dwell.” It is derived from the noun oikos, meaning “a house” or “a dwelling place.”

The final word in this verse, “you,” is from the Greek second person, plural pronoun meaning “you (plural).”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one of the most frequently misapplied verses in the Bible. Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, or don’t engage in immoral physical activities because when you do you are harming your body, which is the temple of God.” Most often, such people use today’s verse as the proof text. However, this verse does not say that our individual physical bodies are each a temple of God. Neither does this verse say that the Holy Spirit lives within our individual physical bodies. What it says is that the body of Christ (the local church or the church universal) is the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in the church (not the building, but the people). And – as if that doesn’t ruffle enough feathers, did you know that nowhere in the entire Bible does it say that the Holy Spirit indwells you (singular).

Consider the following verses: 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; and Galatians 4:6. In every one of these passages, the English words “you” and “your” are translated from the second person plural pronoun in Greek (you, plural). Also, in 2 Timothy 1:14, and James 4:5, we are told that the Spirit dwells in “us.”

This may shed some new light on Jesus’ comment:

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

We are not saying that Christianity is not an individual, personal relationship with God, for that is the crux of the Christian walk. What today’s verse does teach us is the importance of being part of a local church and working together to build the body of Christ, the Temple of God!

Application

Are you just a Sunday morning Christian, or does your life revolve around serving God and building up God’s Temple?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:3 – Now and Later!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Will

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

Truth to Learn

Immature Christians live for themselves; spiritual Christians live their lives in a Godly manner, for the glory of God.

Behind the Words

The words “you are” are translated from the verb eimi, the verb of being. It is expressed in the present tense and indicative mood, indicating present, ongoing action.

“Still” is from the adverb eti, meaning “still.” It implies a duration of time starting in the past and continuing up to the present time.

Dzēlos is the word translated “envy.” It is based on the verb dzeō, meaning “to be hot.” Thus, dzēlos literally means “hot.” This word is most often used metaphorically, sometimes in a good sense but most often in a bad sense. When used in a good sense it is often translated as “zeal” or “zealous.” When used in a bad sense it is translated as “envy,” “jealousy,” or “anger.”

“Strife” is from the Greek word eris, which means “strife,” “contention,” or “arguing.” It is often used metaphorically to mean “the love of strife,” which seems to be Paul’s intent here.

The word “divisions” is translated from dichostasia, which is composed of dicha, meaning “separately” and stasis, meaning “a stance” or “a posture.” Hence, dichostasis literally means “a separate standing.” This word is not found in the best Greek manuscripts.

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul has just told the Christians in Corinth that they are still babies in Christ because they have not grown much spiritually since the time of their conversion. Twice in this verse he says that they are living according to the thoughts and desires of a natural person instead of living according to the thoughts and desires of a spiritual person. They are not spiritually mature Christians, they are carnal Christians.

The evidence that he gives is the fact that within the church in Corinth there is envy and strife. The clear evidence of this is the fact that they boast and argue about who their spiritual hero is (Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ). If you look at the remainder of this chapter you will see that Paul emphasizes the building up of the body of Christ. Envy and strife do not serve to build, but to tear down. In fact, in his letter to the churches, James says this about envy and strife:

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:14-16)

Clearly, the Christians in Corinth have their sights fixed on themselves and on the things of this world. That is not the way a Christian is to live. The things of this world will pass away, but the things of God are eternal.

Application

As Christians, you spend a few years on this earth, but you will spend an eternity in glory. You can choose to live these few short years for yourself or you can choose to live them for God and give Him all the glory for eternity. The choice is yours!

In God's service, for His glory,