YOU ARE GOD'S TEMPLE

Passage: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23

Key verse: 16

NIV

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

18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise(C) by the standards of this age,(D) you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness(E) in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”[a];(F) 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”[b](G) 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders!(H) All things are yours,(I) 22 whether Paul or Apollos(J) or Cephas[c](K) or the world or life or death or the present or the future(L)—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ,(M) and Christ is of God.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 3:19 Job 5:13
  2. 1 Corinthians 3:20 Psalm 94:11
  3. 1 Corinthians 3:22 That is, Peter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

16 (A)Do you not know that you[a] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For (B)God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

18 (C)Let no one deceive himself. (D)If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For (E)the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, (F)“He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, (G)“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So (H)let no one boast in men. For (I)all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and (J)you are Christ's, and (K)Christ is God's.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 3:16 The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The real temple of God (16-17)

The church in Corinth was not a building; it was a community of forgiven sinners who believed in Jesus and worshiped God. When believers accept their mission from God and obey his word, his Holy Spirit dwells in them. Each person is a living stone in God's building (1Pe 2:4-10). Anyone who sows unbelief and mistrust among believers and tries to destroy God's temple will be destroyed by God.

2. All things are yours (18-23)

It is easy to fool ourselves if we measure ourselves and others by human standards. Pride, ambition and a competitive spirit can destroy the unity of believers. God's wisdom is foolishness to worldly people, but man's wisdom is foolishness to God. God knows our thoughts. He wants to rule our hearts. When we belong to Christ and affirm his Lordship, we have everything.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your Spirit who dwells in me. Help me to be a fool to the world, and full of spiritual wisdom.

One Word: God dwells in his people