1 Corinthians 3:17
New International Version
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

New Living Translation
God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

English Standard Version
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Berean Literal Bible
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.

King James Bible
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

New King James Version
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

New American Standard Bible
If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

NASB 1995
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

NASB 1977
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Legacy Standard Bible
If any man destroys the sanctuary of God, God will destroy him, for the sanctuary of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Amplified Bible
If anyone destroys the temple of God [corrupting it with false doctrine], God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred), and that is what you are.

Christian Standard Bible
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone destroys God’s sanctuary, God will destroy him; for God’s sanctuary is holy, and that is what you are.

American Standard Version
If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

Contemporary English Version
Together you are God's holy temple, and God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple.

English Revised Version
If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him because God's temple is holy. You are that holy temple!

Good News Translation
God will destroy anyone who destroys God's temple. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are his temple.

International Standard Version
If anyone destroys God's sanctuary, God will destroy him, for God's sanctuary is holy. And you are that sanctuary!

Majority Standard Bible
If anyone destroys God?s temple, God will destroy him; for God?s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

NET Bible
If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, which is what you are.

New Heart English Bible
If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.

Webster's Bible Translation
If any man defileth the temple of God, him will God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Weymouth New Testament
If any one is marring the Sanctuary of God, him will God mar; for the Sanctuary of God is holy, which you all are.

World English Bible
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, which you are.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If anyone ruins the temple of God, God will ruin him; for the temple of God is holy, which you are.

Berean Literal Bible
If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, which you are.

Young's Literal Translation
if any one the sanctuary of God doth waste, him shall God waste; for the sanctuary of God is holy, the which ye are.

Smith's Literal Translation
If any one destroy the temple of God, him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which ye are.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if any man violate the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which you are.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if anyone violates the Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is holy, and you are that Temple.

New American Bible
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

New Revised Standard Version
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whoever defiles the temple of God, God will destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and that temple is you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Whoever destroys the Temple of God, God destroys; for the Temple of God is holy, which you are.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Godbey New Testament
If any one destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which ye are.

Haweis New Testament
If any man prophane the temple of God, him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Mace New Testament
if any man divide the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for you, who are the temple of God, are consecrated to him.

Weymouth New Testament
If any one is marring the Sanctuary of God, him will God mar; for the Sanctuary of God is holy, which you all are.

Worrell New Testament
If any one destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.

Worsley New Testament
If any one destroy the temple of God, him will God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, and this temple are ye.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
You are God's Temple
16Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Ephesians 2:21-22
In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. / And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Revelation 21:27
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are His house, if we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope of which we boast.

John 2:19-21
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” / But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body.

2 Timothy 2:20-21
A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. / So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Ezekiel 43:7-9
and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile My holy name—neither they nor their kings—by their prostitution and by the funeral offerings for their kings at their deaths. / When they placed their threshold next to My threshold and their doorposts beside My doorposts, with only a wall between Me and them, they defiled My holy name by the abominations they committed. Therefore I have consumed them in My anger. / Now let them remove far from Me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will dwell among them forever.

Isaiah 56:7
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

Psalm 93:5
Your testimonies are fully confirmed; holiness adorns Your house, O LORD, for all the days to come.


Treasury of Scripture

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

any.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body…

Leviticus 15:31
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.

Leviticus 20:3
And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

defile.

Genesis 28:17
And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Exodus 3:5
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

1 Chronicles 29:3
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

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Corrupt Defile Defileth Destroy Destroyeth Destroys God's Holy House Makes Mar Sacred Sanctuary Temple Unclean Waste
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Corrupt Defile Defileth Destroy Destroyeth Destroys God's Holy House Makes Mar Sacred Sanctuary Temple Unclean Waste
1 Corinthians 3
1. Milk is fit for children.
3. Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind.
7. He who plants and He who waters are nothing.
9. The ministers are God's fellow workmen.
11. Christ the only foundation.
16. You are the temples of God, which must be kept holy.
19. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.














If anyone destroys God’s temple
This phrase emphasizes the sanctity of God's temple, which in the context of 1 Corinthians refers to the collective body of believers, the Church. The temple imagery draws from the Old Testament, where the physical temple in Jerusalem was the dwelling place of God's presence (1 Kings 8:10-11). The destruction of the temple was a significant event in Jewish history, symbolizing judgment and loss of divine favor (2 Kings 25:9). In the New Testament, the concept of the temple shifts to the spiritual realm, where believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The warning against destroying God's temple underscores the seriousness of causing division or harm within the Church, reflecting the unity and purity expected of God's people.

God will destroy him
This phrase serves as a stern warning of divine retribution for those who harm the Church. The idea of God as a just judge is consistent throughout Scripture, where He holds individuals accountable for their actions (Romans 2:6-8). The destruction mentioned here is not merely physical but can imply spiritual consequences, aligning with the biblical principle that God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). The severity of this warning highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity and unity of the Church, as it is the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:4-6).

for God’s temple is holy
The holiness of God's temple is a central theme, reflecting the nature of God Himself, who is holy (Leviticus 19:2). In the Old Testament, the temple was set apart for worship and sacrifice, symbolizing God's presence among His people (Exodus 29:43-46). In the New Testament, the Church inherits this holiness, called to be set apart from the world and dedicated to God's purposes (1 Peter 2:9). This holiness demands a lifestyle that reflects God's character, emphasizing purity, righteousness, and love within the community of believers.

and you are that temple
This phrase personalizes the concept of the temple, directly addressing the Corinthian believers and, by extension, all Christians. It reinforces the idea that the Church is not a building but a living organism made up of individuals who collectively embody the presence of God (Ephesians 2:19-22). This identity as God's temple carries both privilege and responsibility, calling believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1). It also connects to the broader biblical narrative of God dwelling with His people, from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8) to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:3), where God's presence is fully realized among His redeemed.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of 1 Corinthians, addressing the church in Corinth with authority and pastoral concern.

2. The Church in Corinth
A diverse and often divided early Christian community facing issues of immorality, division, and misunderstanding of spiritual truths.

3. God’s Temple
Refers to the collective body of believers, emphasizing the sacredness and unity of the church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching Points
The Sacredness of the Church
The church is not just a gathering of individuals but a holy temple where God dwells. This understanding should foster a deep respect and reverence for the community of believers.

The Call to Holiness
As God’s temple, believers are called to live lives that reflect God’s holiness. This involves both personal purity and communal integrity.

The Seriousness of Division and Destruction
Causing division or harm within the church is a grave matter. Believers should strive for unity and peace, recognizing the severe consequences of destroying God’s temple.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
The presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and in individual believers empowers them to live holy lives and maintain the sanctity of God’s temple.

Accountability and Stewardship
Believers are stewards of God’s temple, responsible for nurturing and protecting the spiritual health of the church community.(17) If any man defile.--Better, If any man destroy--the opposite of "building up," which should be the work of the Christian teacher; the architectural image being still in view.

Which temple ye are.--Literally, the which are ye, "which" referring rather to holy than to the temple; the argument being that as they are "holy" by the indwelling of God's Spirit, therefore they are the temple of God. As God commanded the punishment of death to be inflicted on whoever defiled the actual Temple (see Exodus 28:43; Leviticus 16:2), because it was holy unto the Lord, and His presence dwelt there; so they, having the same Spirit in them, were a temple also holy unto the Lord, and God would not leave him unpunished who destroyed or marred this spiritual temple.

Verse 17. - If any man defile the temple of God. The verb is the same as in the next clause, and should be rendered, If any man destroy the temple of God; but the word is perhaps too strong, and the word "mar" or "injure" might better convey the meaning (Olshausen). The two verbs are brought into vivid juxtaposition in the original: "God shall ruin the ruiner of his temple." St. Paul was, perhaps, thinking of the penalty of death attached to any one who desecrated the temple of Jerusalem. Inscriptions on the chel, or "middle wall of partition," threatened death to any Gentile who set foot within the sacred enclosure." Which temple ye are; literally, the which are ye; i.e. ye are holy. St. Paul is here referring to the Church of Corinth, and to the false teachers who desecrated it by bringing in "factions of destruction" (2 Peter 2:1). Ideally the Church was glorious, "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Ephesians 5:27).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
εἴ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

destroys
φθείρει (phtheirei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5351: To corrupt, spoil, destroy, ruin. Probably strengthened from phthio; properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. To spoil or to ruin.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

temple,
ναὸν (naon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3485: A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple.

God
Θεός (Theos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

will destroy
φθερεῖ (phtherei)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5351: To corrupt, spoil, destroy, ruin. Probably strengthened from phthio; properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. To spoil or to ruin.

him;
τοῦτον (touton)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

God’s
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

temple
ναὸς (naos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3485: A temple, a shrine, that part of the temple where God himself resides. From a primary naio; a fane, shrine, temple.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

holy,
ἅγιός (hagios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 40: Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.

[and] you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are
ἐστε (este)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

[that temple].
οἵτινές (hoitines)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys the temple of God (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 3:16
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