1 Coríntios 3
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - Here the apostle instructs them how to cure this humour (sickness), and rectify what was amiss among them upon this head, (1) By reminding them that the ministers about whom they contended were but ministers (vv5-7) and (2) By representing to them the unanimity of Christ's ministers (v8) 1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. Amplified - I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - Here the apostle informs us what foundation he had laid at the bottom of all his labours among them-even Jesus Christ, the chief corner-stone, Eph. 2:20. Upon this foundation all the faithful ministers of Christ build. Upon this rock all the Christians found their hopes. Those that build their hopes of heaven on any other foundation build upon the sand. Other foundation can no man lay besides what is laid-even Jesus Christ. Note, The doctrine of our Saviour and his mediation is the principal doctrine of Christianity. It lies at the bottom, and is the foundation, of all the rest. Leave out this, and you lay waste all our comforts, and leave no foundation for our hopes as sinners. It is in Christ only that God is reconciling a sinful world to himself, 2 Co. 5:19. Carson - Paul is still thinking of the exclusive power, wisdom, and authority bound up with the gospel. If anyone tries to lay down some other foundation, then it must be for some other building. It is certainly not the church that will rise on any competing foundation. THOUGHT - One practical application of this truth is that if some persuasive speaker comes to the church and begins teaching "doctrines" that did not focus on Jesus Christ and the Cross, the Corinthians should be very leery of such a teacher and if necessary expel them from the assembly. In his parting words to the Ephesian elders Paul describes some that might not build on Jesus warning "Be on guard (prosecho in present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) for yourselves (PAUL IS ADDRESSING THE EPHESIAN ELDERS) and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 (THE SOBER WARNING) “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 (NOTE IT WILL BE AN "INSIDE JOB") and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32“And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:28-32+) Eph 2:19-20+ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, Col 2:6-7+ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Has been laid (2749)(keimai) means literally to be in a recumbent position, to lie down, to be laid down. The root meaning refers to lying down or reclining and came to be used of an official appointment and sometimes of destiny. In the military keimai was used of a special assignment, such as guard duty or defense of a strategic position - the soldier was placed (set) on duty. NT uses - Matt. 3:10; Matt. 5:14; Matt. 28:6; Lk. 2:12; Lk. 2:16; Lk. 2:34; Lk. 3:9; Lk. 12:19; Lk. 23:53; Jn. 2:6; Jn. 19:29; Jn. 20:5; Jn. 20:6; Jn. 20:7; Jn. 20:12; Jn. 21:9; 1 Co. 3:11; 2 Co. 3:15; Phil. 1:16; 1 Thess. 3:3; 1 Tim. 1:9; 1 Jn. 5:19; Rev. 4:2; Rev. 21:16 SPURGEON - 3:11 “No one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” A building’s superstructure is important, but the first question must always concern the foundation. However quickly, however cleverly a person may build, if the foundation is unsound, that person is a foolish builder. This is emphatically true in spiritual things, for there the foundation is of the utmost importance. Four important truths stand out about the foundation in this verse. To begin with, a foundation is the first portion of a building, and so is the Lord Jesus first and foremost with his church. God in his purpose has chosen a people, but he has no such people apart from Christ. Next, a foundation is the support of all, and there is no church except that which derives all its support from Christ Jesus. If any company of people calling themselves a church depend for salvation and eternal life on anything besides or beyond the merit of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, they are not a church. Furthermore, the shape of a building is determined by its foundation. If any portion of a church is not based on Christ, it is a mere deforming addition to the plan of the great architect. Finally, a foundation is indispensable to a building, and so Christ is indispensable to a true church. In a house we might close in a door, and we might remove parts of the roof, and still it might be a house. But we cannot have a house at all if we take away the foundation. We cannot have a church of Christ if Jesus Christ is not there as the foundation. A Place To Stand No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 3:11 Today's Scripture : 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 While taking a break during a ministry trip, we were snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea. The boat that had taken us to the deep water for better sites had gone back to shore, and I began to feel panicky about being in the open water. Finding it hard to control my breathing, I asked my son-in-law Todd and a friend, Dave Velzen, for help. They held my arms while I searched for an outcropping of coral close enough to the surface for me to stand on. Once I had a place to stand, even though surrounded by deep waters, I was okay. Are you feeling a bit panicky about events in your life? Maybe it seems as if you are surrounded by the open waters of relationship problems, or money woes, or simply an inability to put your life in order. Perhaps you feel as if you are drowning in a sea of trials and trouble. May I suggest two things? First, find a fellow Christian or two who can come beside you and hold you up (see Eccl. 4:10), pray for you, talk with you, and remind you that you are not alone. Then rest your feet on the only solid foundation in life: Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). God often meets our deepest need With help we gain from others, From caring members of His church— Our sisters and our brothers. —Brown Build your life on the solid foundation—Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, Amplified - But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - But of those that hold the foundation, and embrace the general doctrine of Christ's being the mediator between God and man, there are two sorts. (1) Some build upon this foundation gold, silver, and precious stones, namely, those who receive and propagate the pure truths of the gospel, who hold nothing but the truth as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. This is building well upon a good foundation, making all of apiece, when ministers not only depend upon Christ as the great prophet of the church, and take him for their guide and infallible teacher, but receive and spread the doctrines he taught, in their purity, without any corrupt mixtures, without adding or diminishing. (2) Others build wood, hay, and stubble, on this foundation; that is, though they adhere to the foundation, they depart from the mind of Christ in many particulars, substitute their own fancies and inventions in the room of his doctrines and institutions, and build upon the good foundation what will not abide the test when the day of trial shall come, and the fire must make it manifest, as wood, hay, and stubble, will not bear the trial by fire, but must be consumed in it. Brian Bell - Some building materials are combustible (wood, hay, straw) & they will be burned up completely. Others will use noncombustible materials such as gold, silver, or costly stones (granite, marble) & they will find their labor will stand the test. And they will receive a reward. Examples of wood, hay, & straw works? 1. Wood: When I became a sound man as a new believer to be seen by others…POOF! 2. Hay: Sharing the gospel w/a friend w/me, being more interested in showing off my apologetic prowess than caring for the soul of the individual I was talking to...POOF! 3 3. Straw: Any time I have served the Lord with a wrong heart...POOF! Take heed how you build! - Wasn’t that the story of the 3 little pigs? 1. That which was made of shoddy building materials (straw & wood) blew down, but that which was of sturdy material (brick) withstood the fierce winds. a) Instead of blowing, Jesus will simply look at it with “His eyes like a flame of fire” at the judgment seat of Christ. “Take heed how you build!” 1 Corinthians 3:13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work Amplified - The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - There is a time coming when a discovery will be made of what men have built on this foundation: Every man's work shall be made manifest, shall be laid open to view, to his own view and that of others. Some may, in the simplicity of their hearts, build wood and stubble on the good foundation, and know not, all the while, what they have been doing; but in that day their own conduct shall appear to them in its proper light. Every man's work shall be made manifest to himself, and made manifest to others, both those that have been misled by him and those that have escaped his errors. Now we may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but there is a day coming that will cure all our mistakes, and show us ourselves, and show us our actions in the true light, without covering or disguise: For the day shall declare it (that is, every man's work), because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work, of what sort it is, v. 13. The expression carries in it a plain allusion to the refiner's art, in which the fire separates and distinguishes the dross from the gold and silver; as it also will silver and gold and precious stones, that will endure the fire, from wood and hay and stubble, that will be consumed in it. There is a day coming that will as nicely distinguish one man from another, and one man's work from another's, as the fire distinguishes gold from dross, or metal that will bear the fire from other materials that will be consumed in it. In that day, Become evident pictures each man's work shining forth. The root phanerós gives us epiphaneia which describes the appearing (epiphaneia) of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Ti 6:14, 2 Ti 4:1, 2+ Ti 4:8+, Titus 2:13+). Jesus will come forth in brilliant light (Rev 1:7+ "every eye will see Him", Mt 24:30+ "with power and great glory", Mt 16:27+ = come...and will then recompense every man), He will SHINE FORTH and our works and even the motives of our heart will be revealed by the brilliance of His shining forth! Our work will be shown for what it is and anything done apart from Christ (Jn 15:5, Jn 12:24) will not stand the test. Jesus "was saying to them (HIS DISCIPLES), “A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand? For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. (phanerós)" (Mk 4:21-22+) Each (each, every man, everyone)(1538) hekastos from hekas = separate) means each, every one, of any number separately. Hekastos is used as an adjective qualifying a noun = each, every (Lk 6.44, Mt 16:27 = repay every man, Mt 26:22 = each one; Jn 19:23 - every soldier; Lk 4:40 = each one; Lk 16:5, Acts 2:3 = rested on each one; Acts 20:31; 1 Cor 12:18; Eph 4:7, 16, Col. 4:6; 1 Th. 2:11; 2 Th. 1:3); Evident (5318) (phanerós = manifest, visible, conspicuous from phaino = give light; to make to shine, to cause to become visible from phos = light; phaneroo) means made visible as an external manifestation to senses. Phaneros stresses what is visible to sight. Conspicuous, apparent, (openly) manifest, obvious, visible, evident, plain, clear, easily seen, open to sight. What is open and public (Mk 4:22). Uses in NT - Matt. 12:16; Mk. 3:12; Mk. 4:22; Mk. 6:14; Lk. 8:17; Acts 4:16; Acts 7:13; Ro 1:19; Ro 2:28; 1 Co. 3:13; 1 Co. 11:19; 1 Co. 14:25; Gal. 5:19; Phil. 1:13; 1 Ti 4:15; 1 Jn. 3:10 ONE "DATE" THAT IS ON EVERY BELIEVER'S DAY TIMER! For the day will show it - This time phrase the day begs the question what day? In context it is the day in which believer's are judged, the thought of which should motivate in these spiritual babies (AND IN ALL BELIEVERS) a desire for a Holy Spirit enabled holy walk in Christ. In context of this first section of Paul's letter dealing with strife, jealousy, divisions, this great prophetic truth should motivate the saints at Corinth to cease their fleshy quarrels and focus on Christ crucified. Paul amplifies this truth in chapter 4 writing... Therefore do not go on passing judgment (THE CORINTHIANS WERE DOING THIS) before the time (WHAT TIME? HE IMMEDIATELY TELLS US "WHAT TIME" - SECOND COMING), but wait until the Lord comes Who will both (FIRST ACTION) bring to light the things hidden in the darkness (BUT REMEMBER OUR SIN AND ITS SHAME HAS BEEN JUDGED AT THE CROSS) and (SECOND ACTION) disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and (CONCLUSION) then each man’s praise will come to him from God. (1Co 4:5+) There is going to be information given on this Day of Christ that is not apparent here on earth...because it is spiritually discerned. The point is there are people down here who look like they are doing SO MUCH for God...the question is are they doing it according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. It is hard to discern this down here (FOR WE CANNOT SEE HEARTS OR MOTIVES AS GOD CAN - 1 Sa 16:7) so therefore we must be very careful and very hesitant to pass judgment on others! The light will make our works evident, and the fire will test them as to whether they will endure eternally! Jesus the Perfect Judge Whose "eyes were like a flame of fire" (Rev 1:14+) warns the churches in Revelation ''I know your deeds'' (Rev 2:2, 19+ Rev 3:1, 8+ Rev 3:15+). In Rev 2:23+ He declares "I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." (Rev 20:12+, Rev 22:12+). As an aside a few commentaries interpret this day as synonymous with the Day of the Lord, but it is distinct and separate from the Day of the Lord which is a manifestation of God's righteous wrath on unbelief and unbelievers, not on believers. Show (make clear) (1213)(deloo from delos = manifest, evident) means to make plain by words and thus to declare. To make manifest to the mind. Deloo is used of indications which lead the mind to conclusions about the origin or character of things. It means to make some matter known that was unknown or not communicated previously. It means to show clearly, to signify, to make manifest, visible, clear, or plain and to make known. When spoken of things past it means to tell, relate or impart information (as in 1Cor 1:11 = "I have been informed"; Col 1:8 = "he also informed us"). Although deloo is used most often in reference to declarations through articulate language, it is also used often of any kind of indirect communication. Deloo used 7v in NT - 1 Co. 1:11; 1 Co. 3:13; Col. 1:8; Heb. 9:8; Heb. 12:27; 1 Pet. 1:11; 2 Pet. 1:14 Because - Explains why the day will show it. It is to be revealed with fire - It is the The veil will be removed exposing our ''building'' that was previously hidden to open view. Have you ever been at the unveiling of a statue commissioned to honor some great leader, etc? What do they do? The statue is concealed by a huge tarp or sheet so that no one can see. After the speeches and adulations, a man tugs the rope and the tarp falls revealing the beautiful work of art! One day the Lord will "tug the rope" (so to speak) and the tarp will fall away and the good works He has done through each of us and they will be revealed and rewarded in accordance with what we have done in Him (cf 1 Cor 15:58+). This will be the experience of each and every believer in Christ on that day when our works are judged. What will the "statue" look like for you on that great day of the Bema Seat judgment? Will you be glad or will there be a tear? I say "tear" because twice in the Revelation in the context of a scene involving believers in Heaven, John records the fact that God will "wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev 7:17+, Rev 21:4+)
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - In that day, Some men's works will abide the trial-will be found standard. It will appear that they not only held the foundation, but that they built regularly and well upon it-that they laid on proper materials, and in due form and order. The foundation and the superstructure were all of a piece. The foundation-truths, and those that had a manifest connection with them, were taught together. It may not be so easy to discern this connection now, nor know what works will abide the trial then; but that day will make a full discovery. And such a builder shall not, cannot fail of a reward. He will have praise and honour in that day, and eternal recompense after it. Fidelity in the ministers of Christ will meet with a full and ample reward in a future life. Those who spread true and pure religion in all the branches of it, and whose work will abide in the great day, shall receive a reward. And, Lord, how great! how much exceeding their deserts! ILLUSTRATION - Mr. Gilbert, a Plymouth Brethren, tells about a dream he had of the Judgment Seat of Christ. His works were piled up, and angels kept bringing them in and piling them up, up, up. He was so proud of his works. Then another angel came in and lit a fire to it. It was like a burning haystack -- it came down, down, down. Finally another angel came in with broom and dustpan and swept in a few precious stones. (AND ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAY "WOE!") Build upon (2026)(epoikodomeo from epí = upon,
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - In that day, There are others whose works shall be burnt, whose corrupt opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the worship of God, shall be discovered, disowned, and rejected, in that day-shall be first manifested to be corrupt, and then disapproved of God and rejected. The great day will pluck off all disguises, and make things appear as they are: He whose work shall be burnt will suffer loss. If he have built upon the right foundation wood and hay and stubble, he will suffer loss. His weakness and corruption will be the lessening of his glory (ED: HENRY APPARENTLY SEES PART OF THE "REWARD" AS DEGREES OF GLORY WHICH IS POSSIBLE), though he may in the general have been an honest and an upright Christian. This part of his work will be lost, turning no way to his advantage, though he himself may be saved. Those who hold the foundation of Christianity, though they build hay, wood, and stubble, upon it, may be saved....for nothing will damn men but wickedness. He shall be saved, yet so as by fire, saved out of the fire. He himself shall be snatched out of that flame which will consume his work. Burned up (2618)(katakaio from kata = intensifies meaning of verb + kaio = to burn) means to burn up, to consume or destroy by fire. The word denotes a violent consuming heat. 11 NT uses - Matt. 3:12; Matt. 13:30; Matt. 13:40; Lk. 3:17; Acts 19:19; 1 Co. 3:15; Heb. 13:11; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 8:7; Rev. 17:16; Rev. 18:8 Suffer loss (forfeit) (2210)(zemioo from zemia) means to affect with damage or to do damage to, to suffer injury, to suffer loss, to sustain damage, to forfeit or to fine. It means to experience the loss of something, with implication of undergoing hardship or suffering. Zemioo was a business term meaning to "punish by exacting a forfeit" (Vincent). 6x in NT - Matt. 16:26; Mk. 8:36; Lk. 9:25; 1 Co. 3:15; 2 Co. 7:9; Phil. 3:8 But he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire - Salvation is secure, but rewards are not guaranteed.
1 Coríntios 3
Henry - Verses 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. Do you not know that you (plural not singular) are (verb is in plural) a temple (naos) of God - Do you not know or "Don't your realize" is Paul's way of directing his readers attention to what follows and is essentially a rebuke, because these were truths that they SHOULD have known! Paul as their spiritual father is "scolding" them for not knowing that when they became believers, the Spirit entered their bodies individually and was present corporately when they came together to worship. The Spirit does not indwell a building per se, but each believer so that when they come together the Spirit dwells in the place of the meeting. As noted the pronoun, you and verb are (este) are both in the plural and therefore do not refer to the individual believer's bodies (as in 1Co 6:19,20+), but here refer to the local church which is viewed as a temple of God inhabited by the Spirit Who is in the believers in that temple. Are is present tense signifying that the believers were continually a temple of God. Do you not know will be a repetitive theme in the remainder of this book - 1 Cor. 3:16; 5:6; 6:2, 3, 9, 15, 16, 19; 9:13, 24. As Kistemaker says Paul "expects the Corinthians to answer positively to his questions, for they had received instruction from the apostles and apostolic associates. Therefore, by asking questions Paul refreshes the memory of the Corinthians and builds on the foundation that was laid in earlier days....Now he chides the Corinthians for their negligence and slothfulness in not using the knowledge they possess (1 Cor 1:5+; 1 Cor 8:1). The verb to know in Greek (eido) signifies inherent knowledge the believers ought to possess. They know that they are the temple of God. Yet Paul does not reveal how they came to develop this knowledge. He takes for granted that they are able to marshal this information."(NTC-1Cor) Glenn Spencer - We are the present earthly dwelling place for God. This is one of the most astounding truths in the Word of God. Just as the Holy of Holies was the dwelling place of God in the Old Testament Temple, the body of each individual believer is the temple of God in this present dispensation. (Expository Pulpit Series – 1 Corinthians). (ED: Think of yourself as a "portable holy of holies," for everywhere you go you transport the Spirit (and of course the Trinity, the Father, Son and Spirit in fact indwell us - see Col 1:27b+, Jn 14:23 = "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word [NOTE "LOVE" IS AN ACTION, NOT JUST SO MUCH AN EMOTION - WE ACTUALLY "SAY" {SHOW} WE LOVE HIM BY OBEYING HIM! HAVE YOU EVER SAID "I LOVE YOU LORD" AND WERE IN UNCONFESSED SIN?]; and My Father will love him, and We [Father and Son] will come to him and make Our abode [Gk = mone = dwelling place] with him."). NET Note on you are a temple - You are God's temple refers here to the church, since the pronoun you is plural in the Greek text. In 1 Cor 6:19+ the same imagery is used in a different context to refer to the individual believer. Kistemaker on you are a temple - The wording in this clause is unique for two reasons: first, the expression temple is in the singular (see 1 Cor 6:19) and, second, in the Greek this noun is not preceded by a definite article. The Greek word for temple is naos, which refers to the actual temple and not to the temple complex (known in Greek as hieron). In his epistles, Paul nearly always writes naos, the word for the actual temple, to indicate that God caused the divine name to dwell there (1 Kings 8:16–20). For Paul and the Corinthians, the temple of God is the church, that is, the body of believers. “The Spirit of God lives within you.” The church is holy because God’s Spirit dwells in the hearts and lives of the believers. In 6:19 Paul indicates that the Holy Spirit lives in the physical bodies of the believers. But now he tells the Corinthians that the presence of the Spirit is within them and they are the temple of God. The Corinthians should know that they have received the gift of God’s Spirit. Paul had already called attention to the fact that they had not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit of God (2:12). He teaches that Christians are controlled not by sinful human nature but by the Spirit of God, who is dwelling within them (Rom. 8:9). The behavior—strife, jealousy, immorality, and permissiveness—of the Christians in Corinth was reprehensible. By their conduct the Corinthians were desecrating God’s temple and, as Paul writes in another epistle, were grieving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30; compare 1 Thess. 5:19). (NTC-1Cor) Bell - the temple does not refer to the structure in which believers meet to worship. Rather, Christians themselves are the temple. We are God’s temple why? - Because the Spirit of God dwells in us! (1 Cor.6:19) w there are 2 words in Greek for Temple: (naos & hieron) a) One means the Temple building itself. hieron b) Naos means the Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where the glory of God dwells (that is the word used here). (1) We are God’s sanctuary, the place of His holy awesome presence! (2) You are not simply the structure in which He lives. You are the dwelling place of the Shekinah glory of God! : The Spirit of God dwells in you - not an influence of the Spirit; but the 3rd person of the Trinity Himself! 1. Christian, no matter how weak, feeble, poor, helpless, or frustrated you feel; or how inadequate, incapable, incompetent, or ineffective you feel,…The Spirit of God dwells in you! 2. Why does He dwell in us? That we might develop character, the fruit of the Spirit, good works, & the reproduction of the character of Jesus Christ. a) Which begs the question, “Why is it that so little of His life is produced in us & so much of ourselves still remains?” (Alan Redpath) The O.T. tabernacle had an outer court (where the public walked), the inner court (which was the place of service), & the Holy of Holies (the sanctuary of the presence of God). 4 a) We are not to live in the outer court (the world); we are not to live “only” in the inner court (of the busy rush of Christian service); but in the Holiest of all (walking as holy men & women w/dignity, reverence, & worship!) Ray Stedman on you are a temple - Now that is a great truth and one which the apostle will really underscore throughout this letter. This truth lies at the base of all that Christians do. Their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and when Christians, with the Spirit indwelling them, gather (as we are doing here this morning), the whole congregation becomes a great temple of the Holy Spirit, the center of the presence of God. The center of divine activity in this whole community is right here this morning because God the Spirit is present when his people are gathered together.(1 Corinthians 3:16-23 How To Destroy A Church) In John's Gospel Jesus uses the same word for temple (naos) declaring “Destroy this temple (naos), and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple (naos), and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple (naos) of His body." (Jn 2:19-21+) So Paul's thought would parallel with Jesus' description of Himself for even as His earthly body was a temple, so too His redeemed people are a temple indwelt by the Spirit and collectively are a temple of God. Jack Arnold - The Bible speaks of three spiritual temples 1) the body of the individual Christian (I Cor. 6:19-20); 2) the universal Church (Eph. 2:20-22) and 3) the local church collectively (I Cor. 3:16). A temple is were the presence of God resides. These three temples are to be constantly built up spiritually by faithful ministers of God. Lest we miss the point, this verse is stating the local church houses the presence of God, not as a physical building but in the people collectively. Staton - “We have done something terrible when we have talked about the church building as being the “house” of God or the “temple” of God. That would mean then that the building is more sacred than the people. But it is the people who are the “house” of God and are the “temple” of God. For it is not just what goes on inside a building, but what goes on inside a people, that is important” (1 Corinthians). Robertson on a temple of God - Literally, a sanctuary (naos, not hieron, the sacred enclosure, but the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place) of God. The same picture of building as in 1 Cor 3:9+ (oikodome), only here the sanctuary itself. The outward temple is merely the symbol of God’s presence, the Shechinah (the Glory). God makes His home in the hearts of His people or the church in any given place like Corinth. It is a terrible thing to tear down ruthlessly a church or temple of God like an earthquake that shatters a building in ruins. Cornerstone Bible Commentary - Nearly all gods in the ancient world were enshrined in elaborate buildings, including the God of the Jews, who dwelt in the Most Holy Place. Paul’s statement was a radically new paradigm that would not be easy for the Corinthians or any other ancient people to get their mind around. Believer's Study Bible - Two different Greek words are translated "temple." Hieron refers to the entire temple complex. The naos is the Most Holy Place in which God uniquely dwelt in the O.T. tabernacle and temple. This verse speaks of the local church as the naos, the unique dwelling place of the Spirit of God. In 1 Cor. 6:19 Paul speaks of each individual believer as a temple of the Holy Spirit of God. Verse 17 urges caution in the use one makes of this temple. Dividing the local church (cf. v. 4) is the same as defilement of the sanctuary and calls forth the most serious response of judgment by God. As Paul is addressing a visible local congregation, the destruction threatened by God may be applied both to the discipline of genuine believers and to the eternal destruction of those in the church whose profession is insincere. Temple (sanctuary) (3485) see naos And that the Spirit of God dwells (present tense = continually dwells) in you? - The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ (Ro 8:9+ note that the clear implication is that believers are indwelt by the Trinity - cf Jn 14:23) and as such indwells each and every believer at the moment of their conversion (at regeneration, when they are born again), not at the time of some supposed "second blessing." In this passage the pronoun you is plural which signifies that Paul is referring to the corporate body of believers, each of whom is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. In other words dwells in you could be paraphrased dwells in your church, not the building per se, but in your assembled body of believers (this is a bit mysterious to me, but I think this is what God's Word teaches). Dwells means the Spirit of God makes His home in believers (corporately and individually). Henry