1 Corinthians 3:16
What does 1 Corinthians 3:16 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 3:16 means
Paul reminds the Corinthians of their corporate identity: “ye are a temple of God,” and God’s Spirit dwells among them. This is not about a physical building, but the gathered people. God’s holy presence defines their life together. If they are God’s temple, then factions, pride, and impurity defile what is sacred. The verse dignifies the church profoundly—God chooses to dwell with His people—and calls for reverent conduct. Unity and holiness are not optional extras; they are temple-appropriate. Remembering who they are confronts their behavior: you cannot treat God’s dwelling lightly. The Spirit’s indwelling is both privilege and accountability for the community.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do you not see that you are God's holy house, and that the Spirit of God has his place in you?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862have ye not known that ye are a sanctuary of God, and the Spirit of God doth dwell in you?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Know you not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Do ye not know that ye are [the] temple ofGod, and [that] the Spirit ofGod dwells in you?
Context
After the building metaphor with its warnings and promises, Paul deepens the stakes by naming the church as God’s temple. This identity prepares for the severe warning in verse 17 against anyone who destroys the temple. The argument shifts from evaluating workmanship to protecting holiness. The Corinthians must see their divisions and arrogance as more than social problems; they are temple offenses. This sets up the following section on the folly of worldly wisdom, which also threatens the temple’s integrity.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 5:6
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
- 1 Corinthians 9:24
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.
- Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
- 1 John 4:12
No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
- 1 Corinthians 6:9
Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,
- 1 Corinthians 9:13
Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?
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