November 5, 2023
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
“All Y’all”
Service Overview: In Christ, people become sacred space for God to dwell in. But not merely them in themselves! Those who are in Christ are COLLECTIVELY the dwelling place of God! And this has huge implications.
Memory Verse for the Week:
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness” 1 Corinthians 3:19 (NIV)
Background Insights:
- Paul will now pick up a theme he positively laid down in 1:31: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Now in chapter 3 he says it negatively and with specificity: “So let no one boast [third-person imperative] in human leaders” (v. 21). The context is the factionalism and party politics that were tearing the church apart. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 71)
- The members of the Corinthian church were glorying in men, and this was wrong. They were comparing men (1 Cor. 4:6) and dividing the church by such carnal deeds. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 57)
- The term for “destroy” (v. 17) must not be watered down to refer merely to temporal judgment nor taken as support for any doctrine of annihilation, in light of the consistent testimony of Paul elsewhere, the rest of the New Testament, first-century Judaism, and the Apostolic Fathers. The reason Paul chose this term, over against more common terms for eternal condemnation, is to show that the punishment fits the crime. They who would do away with God’s sacred enterprise will themselves perish. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 109)
- In order to grasp the full audacity of this claim, we must remember that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing and active. For Jews like Paul, the Jerusalem temple had been understood as the central locus of the divine presence in the world. Thus, when Paul now transfers this claim to the community of predominantly Gentile Christians in Corinth, he is making a world-shattering hermeneutical move, decentering the sacred space of Judaism (cf. John 4:21–24). (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 57)
- This passage has endured a long history of unfortunate interpretation in the church. Because the imagery of the temple is reapplied in 6:19-20 to the individual Corinthian who was going to the prostitutes, many have read that usage back into this passage as though it were a word of warning to individual Christians as to how they are to treat their bodies or live out their individual Christian lives. Both the context and the grammar disallow such interpretations, even by “extended application.” (Gordon D. Fee, 1 Corinthians, 149)
- There are two Greek words for ‘temple’, Aieron, which includes all the temple precincts, and naos (used here) which denotes the shrine proper, the sanctuary. The word points us to the very presence of God. This is brought out explicitly with the assertion that the Spirit dwells in the Corinthian believers. (Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: 1 Corinthians, 69)
What crucial truths is Paul conveying to the Corinthian Christians here?
- The earthly temple of God, is the gathered people of God.
(vv. 16-17 | John 2:19; Acts 17:24; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Cor. 12:12; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:20-22)
The community is not just any building but in fact the Temple of God, the place where God’s Spirit dwells. It is crucial for interpreters of this text to understand that the verb and the second person pronoun in verse 16 are plural: “Do you not know that you [plural] are the Temple of God and that God’s Spirit dwells in you [plural]?” The image here is of the Spirit dwelling not in the individual Christian (cf. 6:19) but in the gathered community. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 56)
While it is true that each individual is a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (6:19), Paul was teaching here about the nature of the church or Christian community. (Grant R. Osborne, Life Application Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians, 52)
- While God blesses those who help build his temple, he judges those who work to destroy it.
(v. 17 | Num. 5:3; 19:20; 35:34; Mat. 12:36; 16:18; Rom. 16:17; 2 Pet. 2:1-10; Jude 1:3-4)
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him: the temple of God can be destroyed, or defiled (Gk phtherro), by party-spirit and quarrelling, so let them beware; the punishment for such sacrilege will fit the crime (cf. 11.30). (F. F. Bruce, The New Century Bible Commentary: 1 and 2 Corinthians, 45)
To engage in divisions is to ‘destroy’ the divine society, and consequently to invite God to ‘destroy’ the sinner. The word does not indicate either annihilation or eternal torment. It is not specific. It simply makes it clear that he who commits a grave sin lays himself open to a grave penalty. (Leon Morris, 1 Corinthians, 70)
- Those whom God considers wise are often those the world considers fools.
(vv. 18-23 | Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 3:7; John 15:19; 1 Cor. 1:20; Eph. 5:15-17; Ja. 3:17)
[Paul] insists that none of them be deceived by what appears to be wisdom but is not. Their sophia belongs only to the present age and has no standing whatsoever with God himself; indeed, it is foolishness to him. All of this recalls and applies the argument of 1:18-2:16. (Gordon D. Fee, 1 Corinthians, 150)
The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 56)
If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees! Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. (Vance Havner, All The Days, 95)
Conclusion… How does this passage challenge us in countering culture? By challenging us to realize that…
A. We can’t honestly be the church unless we are in and with the church.
(John 14:17; Acts 2:42-47; Rom. 12:4-5; Col. 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Peter 2:5)
Do we care enough about the growth of fellow believers in our local churches to seriously evaluate our own contributions to its ministry? (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 64)
I believe that one major reason that the church of Jesus Christ in the United States is very close to being in sheer chaos today is because so many people think themselves as individuals rather than as part of the body of Christ. Christianity is not “every man for himself;” it’s every man together for Christ. (Wayne Mack, To Be or Not To Be a Church Member, 58)
Though true Christianity uniquely involves a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is also a corporate experience…Christians cannot grow spiritually as they ought to in isolation from one another. (Gene Getz, Encouraging One Another, 10)
B. We shouldn’t expect God’s blessing if we defame or damage what he loves and died for.
(Ps. 34:13; Rom. 14:12-13; 1 Cor. 4:5; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:29; James 1:26-27)
This is no light matter. Those who damage the unity of the community are interfering with God’s chosen mode of presence, and they will certainly incur judgment. (Richard B. Hays, First Corinthians, 58)
There is surely no grace in us if we do not feel for the church of God, and take a lasting interest in its welfare. (C. H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, Psalm 51)
C. Timeless wisdom will always seem foolish to those who only live for the temporal.
(John 12:25; 15:19; 16:33; 17:16; 18:36; 1 Cor. 1:20; 7:31; Gal. 4:9; 1 Tim. 6:7; 1 John 2:17)
God sees every action and knows every thought of every person. If we desire to be wise in the eyes of God, we must believe, live, think, and act in ways that this world sees as foolish. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 71)
The Almighty utterly reverses so many of the values cherished by the world. What the world judges wise, God dismisses as folly; what the world rejects as foolishness is nothing less than God’s wisdom. (D.A. Carson, The Cross, 84)
[Wisdom is:] 1. Seeing life from God’s point of view. 2. Ability to select the best goals for one’s life and the best means to achieve them. 3. Skill of living life before God. (Bill Thrasher, A Journey to Victorious Praying, 92)
Gospel Connection…
In Christ, you and y’all are sacred space in which God dwells.
(Mat. 18:20; John 12:46; John 14:17; Rom. 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 1:22-23)
When we enter into the “in Christ” existence we become one with those who are in Christ. Eternal life is received individually, but it is lived out in community. And the community battles sin in the body by confronting sinners and by requiring spiritual accountability. (Ajith Fernando, The Supremacy of Christ, 183)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- In 3:16, Paul says the temple of God’s Spirit is in “you” plural, not you as an individual. What is the significance of this?
- How can God’s earthly temple (aka, the church) be destroyed? How can it be built? Why might this be important to think carefully about?
- Consider what the world says is wise concerning money, intelligence, power, and popularity. How do God’s standards of wisdom counter the world’s standards?
- Why does Paul use the language this age and this world? How does the knowledge of another age and another world help refine your standards of wisdom?
- How did the Corinthians’ boasting in particular leaders cause them to lose sight of the greater gifts that God had given them?
- In what ways will Christians need to wait for Christ’s return to see God’s wisdom ultimately prevail?
Quotes to note…
The future in Christ is not uncertain, scary, ominous, or nerve-racking. The one who holds my present also holds my future. (Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians, 73)
The man who attempts Christianity without the church shoots himself in the foot, shoots his children in the leg, and shoots his grandchildren in the heart. (Kevin DeYoung, The Hole in Our Holiness, 132)
The visible church is where you will find Christ’s kingdom on earth, and to disregard the kingdom is to disregard its King. (Michael Horton, taken from Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman, 15)
We must not permit our personal preferences to become divisive prejudices. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, 57)
On the most elementary level, you do not have to go to church to be a Christian. You do not have to go home to be married either. But in both cases if you do not, you will have a very poor relationship. (Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man, 165)
The doctrine of grace is arguably the watershed that separates Christianity from all other world religions. It should cause no surprise, then, that the church has a difficult time warding off the persistent intrusion of works-righteousness. It is central to fallen, human nature to say that grace is unfair and we should get what we deserve. But no one honest about his or her own sinfulness could ever really want that. (Craig L. Blomberg, 1 Corinthians, 115)
There is no surer mark of backsliding and falling off in grace than an increasing disposition to find fault, pick holes, and see weak points in others. (J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 174)
In the Old Testament, the penalty for defiling God’s dwelling (whether the tabernacle or the temple) was death (Leviticus 15:31) or separation from the nation (Numbers 19:20). The penalty for destroying God’s spiritual temple—found in his people individually and in the church collectively—is no less severe. (Grant R. Osborne, 1 & 2 Corinthians, 52)
God values the ministry of the local church so highly that He threatens destruction against anybody who would soil His holy sanctuary on earth (3:17). We see examples of God acting decisively for the holiness of His church in the New Testament. God struck dead Ananias and his wife Sapphira for financial dealings with the church that lacked full integrity (Acts 5:1-11). James, the brother of Jesus, mentions that some Christians may have become ill because of unrepentant sin (Jas. 5:15), and Paul similarly mentions some in Corinth who had become “weak and sick” and even died for improperly participating in the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:28-30). (Charles R. Swindoll, Insights on 1 & 2 Corinthians, 61)
The present and the future belong to believers because they belong to the One who holds the present and the future. (Osborne, 54)