1 Corinthians 3:16-20 (WEL) Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him because the temple of God, which you are, is holy. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world’s way, let him become a fool so that he may be [truly] wise. 19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness with God, as it is written, “He takes the wise in their own craftiness.” [Job 5:13] 20 Again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are empty.” [Psalm 94:11]
V16 Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
Why are we God’s Temple? The Holy Spirit indwells our regenerated heart (soul/spirit). See 2 Corinthians 5:17. Also see John 7:37, 1 Corinthians 6:19, and Romans 8:9-11. The Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost (Acts 2:4).
For someone to be in Christ, one must believe in Jesus, His Gospel (life, sacrificial death, bodily resurrection, and message (John 3:15-18)). See Romans 6:23, Romans 8:1-2, and Galatians 2:16.
A temple is a building where a deity lives. The one true God now lives in the temple of the human soul, which is a brand new creation. God also lives in heaven. He is omnipresent.
Jesus spoke of the temple of the soul in John 2:19-21. The church (the body of believers) is a temple also—Ephesians 2:19-22.
Comments:
Bible Knowledge Commentary: “This structure rises to become (lit., “continually grows [pres. tense] into”) a holy temple in the Lord. This indicates that the church is a living and growing organism, as new believers are included in this temple’s superstructure (cf. Ephesians 4:15-16; 1Pe 2:5). Both Jewish and Gentile believers are being “joined together” into this one organism labeled “a holy temple” (cf. “one new man” [Ephesians 2:15] and “one body” [Ephesians 2:16]).”
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary) Here an additional thought is added to the image; the Church has the growth of a living organism, not the mere increase of a building.”
(Holman Commentary) “The stones are forming a living, spiritual temple to glorify the Lord. In the Old Testament, the presence and glory of God inhabited a literal stone building. Now God dwells not in a stone building but in the hearts of believers. Christ is the unifying factor that takes the separate stones and creates a temple. This temple is holy, set apart for God. In this temple God receives worship and praise. The hearts of believers are thus the basic worship place in God’s kingdom on earth.”
V17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him because the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Defilement is something that God Sin contaminates whatever it affects—body, mind, soul, and spirit. In Jewish understanding, it refers to anything that is clean and holy by God’s standards. Sin defiles and makes things unacceptable in His presence. There can be no blessing on something that is defiled. God considers it disgusting. When a believer sins, then we must acknowledge it and ask for forgiveness.
V18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this world’s way, let him become a fool so that he may be [truly] wise.
If we have an arrogant attitude of “ I’m right while God and others are wrong,” then the former is demonstrating worldly wisdom (James 3:13-18). Sin is deceptive. It looks right, but it is deadly. The fool in this verse refers to a person who adheres to the teaching of the Bible and refuses to comply even when and if others mock them.
V19 For this world’s wisdom is foolishness with God, as it is written, “He takes the wise in their own craftiness.” [Job 5:13]
Philosophy is important, but when human logic overrides the plain words of the Bible, then it is a false god. We must always believe that the Bible is the highest and purest wisdom. It is God’s wisdom.
V20 Again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” [Psalm 94:11]
The natural thinking of all humans does not bring life. It is foolish, futile, and useless. Word Study Dictionary illustrates “It is building houses on sand, chasing the wind, shooting at stars, pursuing one’s own shadow.”
The World of Life Encyclopedia has this note on “vain” (1) Empty; without meaning or purpose; without effect (Ex. 20:7; Le. 26:16; 1 Sa. 25:21; Ec. 6:12; Ps. 60:11; 108:12; 127:1-2, Pr. 1:17; 31:30; Is. 45:18; Je. 50:9; Ro. 13:4; 1 Co. 15:2, 17; Ga. 2:21; 3:4; 4:11; Ja. 4:5). (2) Men empty of moral values; wicked (Ju. 9:4; 11:3; 2 Sa. 6:20; 2 Ch. 13:7; Pr. 12:11; 28:19). (3) Pride; vanity (1 Co. 3:20; Ga. 5:26; Ph. 2:3; Col. 2:18; Ja. 2:20). (4) Man-made teaching which does not line up with the Bible and which does not edify (1 Ti. 6:20; 2 Ti. 2:16). (5) Without benefit (Mt. 15:9; Mk. 7:7).
We learn:
- The importance of knowing that individual believers and the assembly of believers is a temple.
- Our human thinking often leads us into trouble with God.
Questions:
- Are you defiling God’s temple?
- Do you consider worldly wisdom before God’s wisdom?