1 Corinthians 3:16-23: a reflection

16Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are. 18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” 21Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours, 23and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Paul asks the Corinthians a question meant to change how they see themselves: Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you? God's temple is holy, and that is what you are. The living God does not merely visit his people from a distance; he dwells within them by his Spirit, making them, together, his temple, his dwelling place, holy because he is present in them.

Notice the astonishing dignity this gives us: we are God's temple, the place where his Spirit dwells. In the old covenant, God's presence dwelt in a temple of stone; but now, Paul says, God's people are his temple, and his Spirit lives in them. This is a truth of immense dignity, that God should make his home in us; and it carries a call to holiness, for God's temple is holy, and we are not to defile what God has made his dwelling place.

That truth should shape how we regard ourselves and one another. We are not merely people trying to be good; if we belong to Christ, we are God's temple, indwelt by his Spirit, holy because he dwells in us. This gives us a dignity beyond anything the world can give, and a call to live accordingly, not defiling with sin what God has made his dwelling. Remember whose temple you are. Do not think of yourself as merely ordinary, or treat your body and life as your own to do with as you please; God's Spirit dwells in you, making you his temple, holy. Live in the awareness that God dwells in you, honoring rather than defiling the temple he has made you, and treating others who are his temple with the same reverence. You are God's dwelling place; live as one in whom the holy God has made his home.

Lord, Paul asks whether I know that I am God's temple, and that your Spirit dwells in me; your temple is holy, and that is what I am. Let that astonishing truth shape how I see myself. You do not merely visit your people from a distance; you dwell within them by your Spirit, making them your temple, holy because you are present in them. This gives me a dignity beyond anything the world can give, and a call to holiness, for your temple is holy, and I am not to defile what you have made your dwelling. Help me remember whose temple I am. Keep me from thinking of myself as merely ordinary, or treating my body and life as my own to do with as I please; your Spirit dwells in me, making me your temple, holy. Help me live in the awareness that you dwell in me, honoring rather than defiling the temple you have made me, and treating others who are your temple with the same reverence. I am your dwelling place; help me live as one in whom the holy God has made his home.