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First Corinthians 3:16-20

Paul has been warning the believers in Corinth concerning the teaching that they are taking in - the wood,
hay and straw philosophies that are being promoted, in their assembly.
If they take that worldly thinking as their own, building their lives on earth from it, they will have little
reward in heaven - for only that which is built of God will endure forever (Ps 104:31, Eph 3:19-21). They
will have so little glory to show, for their Lord - and that, for eternity.
But as Paul now continues, well see that his tone becomes sharper - and he sounds a more dire warning of pending judgment.
[First Corinthians 3:16-20]
Remember that in the previous section, Paul had written of the church in Corinth using a building as his
illustration - in verse 9, you are Gods building. The you is plural in the Greek.
We see Paul is continuing in this section with his illustration of a building - now referring to a specific kind
of building - a temple. And once again, he begins by speaking of the church in Corinth, collectively - in
verse 16, its you [plural] are the temple of God.
In fact, this next section follows the pattern we saw in the previous section. We have the plural you, in
verses 16 and 17; and we have the one - anyone; no one - an individual or individuals being singled out
by Paul, in verses 17 and 18.
But there are two things that distinguish this section from the previous one. The previous section was about
the action of building - what it is that believers build into the life that Christ has given them.
There is no action of building going on in this section. This is about the action of defiling the temple of
God; more literally, destroying it. So instead of building up, this is about one who has in mind to tear
down a building - the temple of God. A very different activity - opposite to that in the previous section.
The other thing that distinguishes this section from the previous one is the judgment that is described. In
the previous section, the believers work of building is examined at the Judgment Seat of Christ; that which
is not of God will be burned up - destroyed. And what about the believer? He will suffer loss, but he will
be saved - as a believer, Jesus has already delivered him from the wrath of Gods judgment.
But what about in this section? What is destroyed by God here? Anyone who defiles Gods temple - any
individual person. In fact, the words defile and destroy used here are exactly the same word, in the
Greek. This is Divine retribution; wrath; a condemnation of the person for his sin - which is the mark of
the judgment upon an unbeliever.
Keeping this in mind, lets now look more closely at the passage.
v. 16 Do you not know. The church in Corinth was keen on acquiring greater wisdom, werent they?
But Paul is asking them if they really understand a basic truth - that they are the temple of God.
As in the previous section, Paul is referring specifically here to the church in Corinth, not the entire
collective of the Body of Christ (2 Cor 6:16) - nor to each of them, individually (1 Cor 6:19), which he
does, elsewhere in his letters.

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The church in Corinth is the temple of God. What did that mean to them? For those believers who had
been Jews, their minds would go back to the temple that had been built in Jerusalem, in accordance to the
pattern that the LORD gave to David (1 Chr 28:11-19).
That temple was a prophetic portrait of the One who would come to put away sin and death - their Messiah.
And Gods presence resided in that temple - seen as the shekinah glory, which shone out from it - a visible
manifestation of the invisible God.
Those believers who had been Gentiles in Corinth would also know about temples. There were many
temples that had been built, to many of the pagan gods.
In fact, the pagans believed that each of their deities inhabited the particular temples that had been
dedicated to them, rendering the temple sacred; that is, each temple was devoted to the service of the socalled god that supposedly resided there.
That was all before the Jews had come to believe that Jesus was their Messiah, and before the Gentiles had
turned from idols to the true and living God. And since they had now made that decision, Paul was saying dont you know? YOU - the believers in Corinth - together, are the temple of God.
But it was not some false god that dwelt in this temple; and it was not just a manifestation of Him. God
Himself dwelt in the church in Corinth - in the form of His Spirit - dwelling in the midst of His people.
This is the Spirit whom Jesus sent - who dwells in each believer, individually (1 Cor 6:19); and in the Body
of Christ, collectively (Eph 2:22) - and in each local gathering of believers - He is there, in the midst of
them (Mt 18:20).
The Spirit is the Helper, who is abiding among believers, forever (Jn 14:16). He is the Spirit of truth - who
teaches believers all things, even the deep things of God; who brings to their remembrance all the words of
Jesus, glorifying Jesus to them (Jn 14:26, Jn 16:13-14).
God, in His Spirit, dwelt in the church in Corinth, His temple - and that temple should therefore be a visible
manifestation of His glory.
That glory is the truth of God, the testimony to Jesus that the Spirit kept sharing with each believer in
Corinth, which was to then become their own witness to Jesus, reflected out into the dark world of Corinth
- so that others might be drawn to the true and living God.
That was the purpose of the church in Corinth, and every church - to be the temple of God, where men
could come and see God, through the truth believed and lived; and where they could hear Gods voice,
through the truth shared. Not in a building; but in the believers.
So having enlightened the believers in Corinth to their crucial position in Gods plans, Paul now goes on to
issue this warning.
v. 17 Literally, the first part reads, If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. We need
to keep the perspective of the passage, here.
The temple of God here refers to the church in Corinth, not the universal church. No person can destroy
the universal church, which is the work of God, through an entire age.

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But a person or certain individuals can destroy a local assembly, such as the one in Corinth. How would
they do that? We need to remember the purpose of Gods temple - to shine forth the light of His truth, so
that God can be seen by those who are still in darkness.
But if the light of truth is not emanating from an assembly, then it has failed in its God-appointed purpose.
As a temple of God, it has been destroyed.
Now, there are believers in Corinth; and so the Spirit of God does dwell in their midst. What would block
the light of His truth from going out? The darkness of lies - lies that have been believed, along with or
instead of the truth. God would no longer be seen, through such an assembly, because the truth is not being
believed and lived; because the truth is not being shared.
Now Paul has just made it clear in the previous section that all believers will be saved, even if they have
built worldly thinking into their lives - although that thinking will have to go.
So who is it that Paul has in mind here, who will be destroyed by God for destroying His temple in Corinth?
He can only mean those individuals who are deliberately, purposefully mixing philosophical lies with the
gospel, and feeding it to unwary members of the assembly.
Clearly Paul thinks that these self-promoting leaders within the assembly are not believers. He has alluded
to them in his letter several times already.
They were the not many in Corinth (1:26) - powerful, prominent men, educated in Greek philosophy, who
had an interest in this remarkable movement of God - in making it a movement of their own.
They were natural men, who considered the things of the Spirit of God foolishness (2:14) - who arrogantly
thought that they had greater wisdom than God - and could teach Him a thing or two, about how things
should be done (2:16).
And they had presumptuously assumed authority within the assembly under the banner of their former
teachers - each one carving out a following for himself - which left the assembly divided up into
quarrelsome factions. The light of truth was perilously flickering, in the temple in Corinth, as it became
saturated in worldly thinking.
Paul is letting the rebels know that God will not stand by, idle. Gods temple is holy; it is set apart to Him,
for His purposes. To oppose God and attempt to thwart His purposes is to invite Gods judgment of
retribution; in this case, utter destruction. Whether the judgment will come in their natural lifetime or at the
Great White Throne is unspoken; Pauls thrust is the certainty of it.
But there is still time - and Paul next urges the rebels to repent, before its too late.
v. 18-19a The word that Paul uses for deceive indicates one who has been entirely deceived into
following the way of error. Pauls words are reminiscent of his lengthy discourse at the beginning of our
letter, on the wisdom of God and human wisdom. Here Paul is making the reverse case: the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God.
So Paul is urging anyone who has deluded himself with philosophical wisdom to completely forsake it.
That wisdom is part of the world system, upon which judgment was pronounced at the cross; it is therefore
coming to nothing (2:6).

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Paul advises such a one to instead, become a fool - embrace the message of the cross, of the Savior sent by
God, crucified in weakness, but raised in power (2 Cor 13:4). Then he will be truly wise, because he will
have taken Gods way of salvation.
Paul next quotes two OT passages that bear out his point, that the foolish wisdom of the world will be
judged; and those who have completely bought into it will be judged with it. Each passage is clearly
speaking of the wicked - unbelievers.
v. 19b-20 The first quote is from the book of Job, which well look at more closely. Turn to Job chapter 5.
By this point, Job had been afflicted for a second time - he had lost everything except his life, in this fiery
trial of the LORDs righteousness, in him.
Friends of Job heard of his adversity and came to see him, and they mourned what they saw. Job gave
voice to his sorrow, concerning his suffering; and then the first so-called friend, Eliphaz, expressed his
mind on the matter - revealing a flawed perception of both God and Job.
Eliphaz maintained that God would only allow Job to suffer affliction if Job had sinned, which is not true,
of God; He allows suffering for other reasons. In addition, the account maintains that Job did not sin (1:22,
2:10). Even though Eliphaz was wrong about both God and Job, what he had to say about men of this
world was on the mark.
[Job 5:12-14]
v. 12 The only plans that are always carried out are the LORDs, so if mens plans are opposed to His, their
plans wont be realized.
v. 13 This is the verse which Paul quoted. Not only are the opposing plans of man foiled, the LORD uses
their very plans as the means by which they are ensnared.
This is the imagery of hunting, in which the hunter uses the very craftiness or cunning of the animal as the
means of its capture. Man, in his wisdom apart from God, winds up trapping himself, in Gods judgment.
v. 14 the idea is that Gods judgment will come upon them suddenly; unexpectedly.
Paul drew another supporting quote from Psalm 94. This psalm calls for God to avenge His people from
the wicked, who oppress them. Paul applies this psalm about the remnant of Israel to the situation in
Corinth.
[Psalm 94:1-11, 23]
v. 1-3 We know that the LORD has a timing, in His judgment - a perfect timing.
v. 4-7 The oppressors have a lot to say, and are arrogant; boastful. They treat Gods people with contempt,
afflict them, and think that He will not respond - just as those in Corinth thought.
v. 8-11 The last verse is what Paul quoted, interjecting the psalmists earlier thought, about the foolish
wise-ones, to fit the situation in Corinth. God knows - God sees - and God will respond.
Note the last verse in the psalm.

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v. 23 Both the book of Job and the psalmist are speaking of a just retribution - the wicked get what they
give out; they reap what they have sown. They are ensnared in their own plans, trapped by their own
wisdom - in Gods judgment. And so will be the instigators in Corinth.
There are two passages in Scripture that clearly show this judgment of God upon those who presume to
destroy that which testifies to His Christ. We find the first in the OT, with the institution of the Levitical
priesthood.
Turn to Leviticus chapter 10. The LORD had delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, and brought them
to Himself in the wilderness.
Then the LORD offered Himself to Israel - like a husband to a wife - and their marriage contract was to be
Gods eternal covenant, in His Christ. But Israels response indicated that what they had in mind was a less
intimate relationship - one based on their own doing, for the LORD (Ex 19:3-8).
So the LORD showed them what they must do, in order to have a relationship with Him, based on their own
works. And what was that? The Law.
The LORD gave Moses all of His righteous requirements, which the people would have to keep perfectly, in
order for God to accept them. By the Law is the knowledge of sin (Rm 20); the Law was to be how Israel
would come to see that they could not be accepted by God, based on their own merit.
But at that time, they entered into a blood covenant with the LORD, on the basis of doing all the works of the
Law (Ex 24:3-8). Breaking a blood covenant would mean death.
Later, the LORD gave Moses the ceremonial Law - the pattern for the Tabernacle, and the service of the
priesthood. Together, these would portray for Israel the One who was coming to put away sin and death the One who would ratify the eternal covenant in His blood, by which they could be accepted by God - the
Christ, Israels Messiah.
Moses brother Aaron was chosen by the LORD to be the first High Priest. Together with Aarons sons, they
would be the beginning of the Levitical priesthood, which would minister in the Tabernacle, and offer the
sacrifices to the LORD, that pictured His Christ.
Aaron had four sons that are mentioned in Scripture (Ex 28:1). Long before they were appointed to the
priesthood, the LORD had Moses bring Aaron and his two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, along with seventy
of the elders of Israel up to the LORD, and He revealed Himself to them, and they ate and drank, indicating
their fellowship with the God of Israel (Ex 24:1-2, 9-11).
Much later, after the Tabernacle was constructed, Moses anointed the Tabernacle and consecrated the
priests. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the LORD and
consumed the sacrifices that were offered for the consecration of the priests on the altar (Lev 9:23-24).
And the LORD commanded Moses that this fire on the altar be kept burning; it was never to be put out (Lev
6:13). That fire from the LORD represented Gods holiness, a fire that would search all the sacrifices,
ensuring all that was offered up to the LORD perfectly pictured the Holy One of God - His Christ.
This is whats written next, in the account.
[Leviticus 10:1-3]

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v. 1 Nadab and Abihu, the oldest sons of Aaron, had just been consecrated to the priesthood. They were set
apart to the LORD for His purpose, for the service of the Tabernacle. The LORD had precise commands
concerning that service - precise, because all was a picture of the Coming Christ.
But Nadab and Abihu presumed to offer to the LORD an offering that He had not commanded the priests which the record describes as profane fire, also translated strange fire.
What was wrong with their offering? Coals of fire were to be placed into censers from the altar of burnt
offering in the outer court, brought inside the sanctuary into the Holy Place, and set upon the golden altar in
front of the veil, so as to burn the sweet incense before the LORD (Ex 30:7-9, Lk 1:8-9).
Instead, Nadab and Abihu had put the incense on the coals in their censers, in front of the sanctuary, while
still in the outer court (see v. 4).
The magnitude of this error is understood in light of what happened next.
v. 2 God, in His holiness, searched that offering and found it wanting. What Nadab and Abihu offered to
Him was profane - it was outside the sacred. The very fire that had gone out from the LORD and consumed
the offerings for their consecration as priests now devoured them in judgment.
Then the LORD had Moses tell Aaron why it happened.
v. 3 Nadab and Abihu had been privileged to see the revelation that the LORD had made of Himself at
Mount Sinai, and to participate in fellowship with Him. They were privileged to represent the people
before the LORD, to draw near to Him through the service of the tabernacle.
Yet they did not sanctify the LORD in their hearts, as holy. There was no fear of the LORD, which led to a
careless disregard for the pattern He had given, for worship. And in their disregard, Nadab and Abihu had
misrepresented the LORD to the people, so that He was not glorified, before them.
In what way? Well, the altar of burnt offering in the outer court represents the cross of Christ - where He
offered Himself as the Sin-offering.
As the fire had come out from the LORD, and consumed the sacrifices, so the fire of Gods holiness had
searched the sacrifice of Jesus, proving Him to be the acceptable offering for the sins of the world.
The golden altar inside the sanctuary represents Christ as our High Priest, who now intercedes for us at the
throne of God - shown by the incense, rising heavenward.
That intercession was only made possible on the basis of His shed blood - which is why the coals from the
altar of burnt offering always had to be brought in to the golden altar, to offer the incense. The sacrifice of
Jesus made possible the intercession of Jesus for believers.
The profane fire of Nadab and Abihu, with incense offered in censers, outside the sanctuary, had ruined the
picture. And so the glory of the LORD could not be seen by the people - due to their careless actions. The
testimony to His Christ had been marred. It was a grievous sin, indeed.

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The fact that Nadab and Abihu were devoured by the fire of the LORD was a just retribution - fire consuming
their profane fire - and it removed from the priesthood those who were not true priests, of the LORD. The
fact that Aaron, the High Priest, held his peace shows his agreement with the LORD - even as his heart broke,
being their father.
There is a NT case of Gods judgment that is similar to this. Turn to Acts chapter 5. This episode took
place during the early days of the church.
In those early days, the believers were all together in Jerusalem, and had all things in common. This had
quickly become necessary because of the loss of work and of property, due to the severe persecution by the
Jews. Those with possessions sold them, and the proceeds were divided among them all, as anyone had
need (Acts 2:44-45).
No one lacked anything. When something was sold, the practice became to lay the proceeds at the feet of
the apostles, to distribute as was needed.
And thats where we begin.
[Acts 5:1-11]
v. 1-2 Now, Ananias was not in any way required to sell his possession; he chose to. Nor was he required
to give it all to the apostles. The issue was not that he gave only part of the proceeds; the issue was that he
made a pretense of giving all.
His intention was to appear generous, while he was secretly greedy - as was his wife, Sapphira. They
wanted to look like great benefactors, in the church - and Ananias boldly laid their hypocrisy right at the
apostles feet.
v. 3-4 Peter may have become aware of the deception through other people, or the Spirit may have
revealed it to him. But Peter knew who was behind the deception - the evil one.
Satan may have introduced the thought to the mind of Ananias; but it was Ananias and his wife who chose
to take the thought, and make it their own. Peter makes it clear that this was an issue between them and the
Lord.
v. 5-6 Although we cant be certain, it is probable that Ananias and Sapphira were not believers. Luke
introduces Ananias to the account as a certain man, a term he typically uses for an unbeliever. Most
likely, they were just carried along by this movement of God, and wanted a part of it - a prominent part.
In any case, the Lords judgment fell upon Ananias immediately, and he was struck dead. As Paul brought
out, He catches the wise in their own craftiness. And the wife of Ananias followed quickly after.
v. 7-11 The lies of Ananias and Sapphira threatened to undermine and destroy the church as a testimony to
Christ, in its formative days - while it was most vulnerable, as the evil one well knew. So Gods judgment
came swiftly, in order to preserve His church. And great fear came upon all the church - a healthy fear, that
would act as a stay upon corruption taking hold in the church, at this critical time.
God has not changed. Despite the attempts of those at enmity with Him to thwart His purposes, God has
always preserved a testimony to Himself and His Christ, on the earth - whether it was the picture in the
offerings; the word of His truth; or the manifestation of Him, through the church.

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And those who would profane that which is holy to God will be held accountable at the Great White
Throne - and sometimes, that judgment will even rise up to meet them in this life.
So Pauls warning to the agitators in Corinth was no idle threat. The precedents are recorded in the
Scriptures. And it is the kindness of God to put a warning shot over the bow - before He sinks the ship!
Reading: 1 Cor 3:21-4:6; Eph 3:1-12; Col 1:24-29; Rom 2:14-16; 2 Cor 5:1-10.