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God’s Temple and God’s Wisdom
Paul says the readers are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in them. From that truth he gives a warning, challenges worldly wisdom, forbids boasting in people, and ends by pointing them to Christ and to God.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
In these verses Paul speaks about God’s temple, God’s Spirit, and holiness. He warns against self-deception, says the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, quotes written words about the wise, forbids boasting in men, and ends with belonging: all are yours, you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
1 Corinthians 3:16–23Main takeaway
Because God’s temple is holy and God’s Spirit lives in them, the readers are to reject self-deception and boasting in people, and remember that they belong to Christ.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01God’s temple and God’s SpiritPaul begins with a question that presses for recognition: “Don’t you know”. He says, “you are God’s temple” and “God’s Spirit lives in you”.
Explanation
Paul begins with a question that presses for recognition: “Don’t you know”. He says, “you are God’s temple” and “God’s Spirit lives in you”. He then gives a serious warning about anyone who destroys God’s temple. The reason is clear in the verse itself: God’s temple is holy, and Paul says, “which you are.”
02A different path to wisdomPaul next warns, “Let no one deceive himself.” Someone may think he is wise “in this world”, yet Paul says he must “become a fool” in order to become wise.
Explanation
Paul next warns, “Let no one deceive himself.” Someone may think he is wise “in this world”, yet Paul says he must “become a fool” in order to become wise. The verse does not praise foolish behaviour. It overturns confidence in a kind of wisdom that looks impressive by this world’s standards.
03God knows the limits of worldly wisdomPaul explains his warning by saying, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” He supports this with two quotations.
Explanation
Paul explains his warning by saying, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” He supports this with two quotations. God has taken “the wise in their craftiness”, and “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” The passage shows that human cleverness does not escape God’s knowledge or judgement.
04Do not boast in menBecause of this, Paul says, “let no one boast in men.” He then gives a wide list: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present, and things to come.
Explanation
Because of this, Paul says, “let no one boast in men.” He then gives a wide list: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life, death, things present, and things to come. He says, “All are yours,” then adds, “you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” The final emphasis is on belonging and relationship.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does Paul give for treating God’s temple seriously?
Look for the three linked statements: the readers are God’s temple, God’s Spirit lives in them, and God’s temple is holy.
02How does Paul challenge a person who thinks he is wise “in this world”?
Follow the words “deceive”, “wise”, “become a fool”, and then read the explanation that worldly wisdom is foolishness with God.
03How do the words “all are yours”, “you are Christ’s”, and “Christ is God’s” answer boasting in men?
Notice that Paul first forbids boasting in men, then lists people and other realities before ending with belonging to Christ and to God.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Corinthians 3:16–23
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.