Destroying God's Temple
Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:55 pm
About three weeks ago (sorry for the lateness posting this) a question was asked about “destroying God’s temple” in 1 Cor 3:17 and what it means. I wanted to share my thoughts. When Paul said “destroys the temple”, I’ve been inclined to think the specific thing Paul had in mind was the way the Corinthians were destroying God’s temple through their strife, jealousy and divisions. (The word “destroys” is also translated as “defiling” and “corrupting” in other passages) I’ll try and explain my thoughts.
The principle issue Paul was addressing in chapter 3 and into chapter 4 was their jealousy and strife, and in particular, exalting one man over another. Paul gave an illustration in chapter 3 about planting, watering and testing by fire. In chapter 4 Paul gives the reason for the illustration:
1Co 4:6 I have applied all these things (the illustration in Chapter 3) to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
Therefore the illustration was given to stop the divisions. They were prematurely judging men’s work and exalting certain ones as a result. Paul alluded to their prejudging in the illustration when he said:
1Co 3:13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
In other words, stop the judging and leave it up to God. In chapter 4:3-5 Paul also said that he didn’t even judge himself. God was going to make the final judgment. Once again he’s tying to dissuade them from making premature judgments and dividing over it.
Therefore from the outset of chapter 3 and well into chapter 4 he’s addressing their premature judging and resultant divisiveness, jealously and strife. He addressed this through both direct words and his illustration.
When we come to verse 16 Paul speaks directly to the Corinthians and reminds them they are God’s temple, something he had alluded to in the illustration:
Vs 9 You are God's field, God's building.
Why the need to remind them they are God’s temple? First, they were acting as if it was being built by certain men and not God. Second, they were “destroying” it through their carnal behavior.
I think in verse 16 he is breaking away from his illustration and speaking directly to the Corinthians again. My reasons are as follows: First, he had just finished explaining to them through the illustration that it was God’s temple, not men’s. Therefore, I see him segueing from his illustration and speaking directly to the matter at hand. Second, the language seems to indicate that he’s moved away from his illustration and is speaking directly to them “Do you not know that you are God's temple…” As if to say “Did you understand the illustration? You are God’s very temple! This is not a small matter”. Throughout the passage any time he spoke directly to the Corinthians he always addressed the issue at hand, which were their specific aforementioned sins.
Now for the verse in question:
1Co 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Since I think Paul started addressing the Corinthians directly in verse 16 I think he’s speaking directly to them in verse 17. What is the issue throughout chapter 3 and into chapter 4 he’s addressing? Premature judging and exaltation of men which lead to strife, divisions and jealousy. Thus, the Corinthian’s carnal behavior is destroying/defiling/corrupting God’s temple.
Further, directly on the heels of verse 17 Paul says the following:
1Co 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise (I think he is again alluding to their inclination to prejudge and exalt men …see verse 21) in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
1Co 3:20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
1Co 3:21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
1Co 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,
1Co 3:23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Therefore I think the specific thing Paul had in mind when he mentioned destroying the temple was the Corinthian’s strife and divisions. I’m still not certain what it means when it says God will “destroy” us. It may be something along the lines of what’s mentioned in Galatians 6:8 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption”. The word “corruption” in Galatians is a similar word in the Greek but not exactly the same. I don’t know exactly how we “reap corruption” either. I do know it’s certainly not something to be desired. Perhaps someone else can chime in if they have a thought on that.
The principle issue Paul was addressing in chapter 3 and into chapter 4 was their jealousy and strife, and in particular, exalting one man over another. Paul gave an illustration in chapter 3 about planting, watering and testing by fire. In chapter 4 Paul gives the reason for the illustration:
1Co 4:6 I have applied all these things (the illustration in Chapter 3) to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
Therefore the illustration was given to stop the divisions. They were prematurely judging men’s work and exalting certain ones as a result. Paul alluded to their prejudging in the illustration when he said:
1Co 3:13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
In other words, stop the judging and leave it up to God. In chapter 4:3-5 Paul also said that he didn’t even judge himself. God was going to make the final judgment. Once again he’s tying to dissuade them from making premature judgments and dividing over it.
Therefore from the outset of chapter 3 and well into chapter 4 he’s addressing their premature judging and resultant divisiveness, jealously and strife. He addressed this through both direct words and his illustration.
When we come to verse 16 Paul speaks directly to the Corinthians and reminds them they are God’s temple, something he had alluded to in the illustration:
Vs 9 You are God's field, God's building.
Why the need to remind them they are God’s temple? First, they were acting as if it was being built by certain men and not God. Second, they were “destroying” it through their carnal behavior.
I think in verse 16 he is breaking away from his illustration and speaking directly to the Corinthians again. My reasons are as follows: First, he had just finished explaining to them through the illustration that it was God’s temple, not men’s. Therefore, I see him segueing from his illustration and speaking directly to the matter at hand. Second, the language seems to indicate that he’s moved away from his illustration and is speaking directly to them “Do you not know that you are God's temple…” As if to say “Did you understand the illustration? You are God’s very temple! This is not a small matter”. Throughout the passage any time he spoke directly to the Corinthians he always addressed the issue at hand, which were their specific aforementioned sins.
Now for the verse in question:
1Co 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Since I think Paul started addressing the Corinthians directly in verse 16 I think he’s speaking directly to them in verse 17. What is the issue throughout chapter 3 and into chapter 4 he’s addressing? Premature judging and exaltation of men which lead to strife, divisions and jealousy. Thus, the Corinthian’s carnal behavior is destroying/defiling/corrupting God’s temple.
Further, directly on the heels of verse 17 Paul says the following:
1Co 3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise (I think he is again alluding to their inclination to prejudge and exalt men …see verse 21) in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"
1Co 3:20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."
1Co 3:21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,
1Co 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,
1Co 3:23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Therefore I think the specific thing Paul had in mind when he mentioned destroying the temple was the Corinthian’s strife and divisions. I’m still not certain what it means when it says God will “destroy” us. It may be something along the lines of what’s mentioned in Galatians 6:8 “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption”. The word “corruption” in Galatians is a similar word in the Greek but not exactly the same. I don’t know exactly how we “reap corruption” either. I do know it’s certainly not something to be desired. Perhaps someone else can chime in if they have a thought on that.