1 Corinthians 3:16-17

¹⁶ Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for God's temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

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Other Translations of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

King James Version

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ¹⁷ If any man defile defile: or, destroy the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

English Standard Version

¹⁶ Do you not know that youThe Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17 are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

The Message

¹⁶ You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? ¹⁷ No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred - and you, remember, are the temple.

New King James Version

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

New Living Translation

¹⁶ Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

(Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

From other parts of the epistle, it appears that the false teachers among the Corinthians taught unholy doctrines. Such teaching tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the building, which should be kept pure and holy for God. Those who spread loose principles, which render the church of God unholy, bring destruction upon themselves. Christ by his Spirit dwells in all true believers. Christians are holy by profession, and should be pure and clean, both in heart and conversation. He is deceived who deems himself the temple of the Holy Ghost, yet is unconcerned about personal holiness, or the peace and purity of the church.