1 Corinthians 3:16 kjv
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 nkjv
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 niv
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?
1 Corinthians 3:16 esv
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 nlt
Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
1 Corinthians 3 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 3:16 | "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" | Paul's direct assertion |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you..." | Personal indwelling |
| Eph 2:21 | "in whom the whole structure, is joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" | Corporate temple |
| Eph 2:22 | "in whom you also are built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." | Spirit as builder |
| 1 Pet 2:4-5 | "As you come to him, a living stone… you also, like living stones, are being built..." | Believers as living stones |
| Heb 3:6 | "but Christ was faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house..." | Christ as head of God's house |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | "What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God." | Distinction from idolatry |
| John 14:17 | "Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see him..." | Spirit's presence |
| John 14:23 | "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come..." | Divine indwelling |
| John 16:13 | "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." | Spirit's guidance |
| Acts 2:1-4 | "And suddenly there was a great sound from heaven... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit..." | Pentecostal indwelling |
| Rom 8:9 | "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." | Spirit's indwelling |
| Rom 8:11 | "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus..." | Spirit's life-giving power |
| Gal 4:6 | "And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" | Spirit as seal of sonship |
| Phil 1:27 | "only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ..." | Living worthily of indwelling |
| 1 Thess 5:23 | "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit..." | Sanctification by the Spirit |
| Titus 3:5 | "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" | Renewal by the Spirit |
| Heb 12:22-23 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God... to God, the judge of all..." | Believers as heavenly city |
| Rev 3:12 | "The one who conquers, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God." | Victorious believers |
| Rev 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.”" | Ultimate dwelling |
| Isa 44:3 | "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground..." | Promise of the Spirit |
| Ezek 36:27 | "And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes..." | Old Testament promise |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 16 Meaning
This verse is a profound declaration of the truth that believers are the dwelling place of God. The Holy Spirit resides within each Christian, making them a temple of God. This indwelling signifies a sacred union and a personal relationship with God. It is a foundational truth for Christian identity and practice.
1 Corinthians 3 16 Context
First Corinthians chapter 3 addresses divisions within the Corinthian church, likely stemming from loyalty to different preachers (Paul, Apollos, Cephas). Paul uses metaphors to emphasize unity in Christ and the shared work of building the church. Verse 16 follows a discussion where Paul corrects their understanding of spiritual leaders. He reminds them that these leaders are servants, and ultimate ownership and building authority belongs to God. He highlights that all divine workers are interconnected in God's purpose. The Corinthians were treating spiritual leaders and their followers as factions, forgetting that they were all part of a larger spiritual reality.
1 Corinthians 3 16 Word Analysis
- Old (o{de`\u0003) (G3776 - oude): This particle can mean "and not," "nor," or it can be emphatic, suggesting "do you not even know?" It carries a tone of gentle rebuke or surprise.
- you (u`mei\u0003) (G5210 - humeis): The plural form of "you." Paul is addressing the entire church community in Corinth collectively.
- know (oi\u000da`\u0002\u0006\u0001) (G1492 - eidei\u0004): This verb refers to a deeper, experiential, and evident knowledge, not just intellectual understanding. It implies they should already grasp this truth.
- that (o{`\u0002) (G3754 - hoti): A conjunction introducing a subordinate clause stating a fact.
- you (u`mei\u0003) (G5210 - humeis): Again, the plural "you," emphasizing the corporate nature of the temple.
- are (e
s\u0006) (G1510 - este): The plural form of "to be." - God's (q\u0005\u000f) (G2316 - theou): The genitive case, indicating possession or origin – the temple belongs to God.
- temple (na`\u000f) (G3485 - naos): Refers to the inner sanctuary, the most holy place of God's presence, distinct from the larger "temenos" or sacred precinct. This signifies a special, consecrated holiness. In this context, it refers to believers, both individually and corporately, as the dwelling place of God's presence through the Spirit.
- and (kai`) (G2532 - kai): Connects two parallel truths.
- that (o{`\u0002) (G3754 - hoti): Introduces another factual clause.
- God's (q\u0005\u000f) (G2316 - theou): Genitive, possession.
- Spirit (pneu`\u0002) (G4151 - pneumatos): The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, active in indwelling believers.
- dwells (oi`ky\u0004\u0002) (G3613 - oikei): Present tense, indicating a continuous and active dwelling or residing. It’s not a temporary visit but a settled habitation.
- in (e`\u0001) (G1722 - en): Preposition indicating being within.
- you (u`mei\u0003) (G5210 - humeis): Plural "you," reinforcing the idea of collective habitation, but also the individual dwelling within each believer.
Group Analysis:
- "you are God's temple": This phrasing elevates believers to a status previously reserved for the physical Temple in Jerusalem. It means they are consecrated, set apart, and where God’s glory and presence are made manifest.
- "God's Spirit dwells in you": This clarifies how they are God's temple. It's not an architectural structure but a living entity indwelt by the divine Spirit. This indwelling is the guarantee of their divine relationship and their spiritual vitality. The plural "you" here is crucial, pointing to the church as a corporate dwelling, yet the singular application is also valid because the Spirit indwells each individual believer.
1 Corinthians 3 16 Bonus Section
The use of "naos" (temple) instead of "hieron" (temple complex) specifically points to the inner sanctum, the Holy of Holies. This elevates the believer's status significantly, implying they are the very place where God's unique presence resides. This imagery draws heavily from Old Testament covenantal blessings, especially the promise of God's dwelling among His people (e.g., Exodus 29:45-46, Ezekiel 37:26-28). The Holy Spirit's indwelling is the New Covenant fulfillment of this ancient desire of God to dwell with humanity. The immediate preceding verses (vv. 10-15) speak of building on the foundation of Christ with various materials, some enduring, some perishing, each judged by fire. This verse, therefore, emphasizes that the foundational truth, regardless of the materials used in building, is that the builders themselves (believers) are the sacred vessel. The destruction or preservation of their "building" work (their spiritual lives and ministries) affects God's temple, and thus carries eternal weight.
1 Corinthians 3 16 Commentary
The Corinthians were creating divisions by prioritizing human leaders. Paul’s sharp reminder in verse 16 is designed to refocus them on their shared identity as the temple of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is not just a passive inhabitation; it signifies God’s active presence, ownership, and claim on their lives and the life of the church. It underscores that no spiritual leader, however gifted, is the true temple or owner; God is. Therefore, they should not fragment into parties, but see themselves as one holy dwelling place for God’s Spirit, a unity rooted in Christ. This truth demands a unified, holy, and respectful life that honors God’s presence within them.
Practical Usage Example: When disagreements arise in a church, members are reminded that they are all temples of the Holy Spirit. Instead of focusing on personal offenses or differing opinions on ministry leadership, the emphasis should be on preserving the unity of the Spirit and respecting God's dwelling place, which is each other and the collective body.