Bill Mounce

For an Informed Love of God

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Monday, July 29, 2024

God will Destroy that Person (1 Cor 3:16–17)

Because “you” can be either singular or plural, it does periodically present an interesting dilemma to the translator. Sometimes it doesn't matter if “you” is singular or if it is plural. Sometimes context makes it clear that “you” is singular or plural. But every once in a while, we come across the passage where it is absolutely essential that readers know whether “you” is singular or plural. And since Paul tells the Corinthians that “you” are God's temple, and if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person, we probably should know a little more about “you.”

In 1 Corinthians 3:16–17, Paul is dealing with the divisions in the Corinthian church around different Christian leaders. The NIV does a good job of indicating number. “Don’t you (οἴδατε) know that you yourselves (ἐστε) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst (ἐν ὑμῖν)? If anyone (τις) destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person (τοῦτον); for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are (ἐστε ὑμεῖς) that temple” (italics added). The use of “yourselves,” “in your midst,” and “ together” are their attempts to translate the meaning of the passage accurately.

The CSB likewise uses “yourselves.” The NLT sets the plural clearly at first: “Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God” (italics added). The KJV uses “ye” (plural) but “in you” for ἐν ὑμῖν. The ESV and NET rely on a footnote. “The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17” (ESV). The NASB and NRSV don’t translate the plural.

Paul wants the Corinthian church to know that they together form the temple of God and the Holy Spirit inhabits that corporate reality. If any individual destroys that temple, the church, God will destroy that person. Remember, Paul is talking to the church as a whole, and to each individual, he delivers God's threat.

How do you destroy God’s temple? Paul hinted at it in v 3. “For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?” There are many ways to destroy the church, but certainly, one of the most popular is to follow the Corinthians and be jealous of and quarrel with other people in the church.

Attacks on the church are all around us. Some are from without, but the most devious and dangerous ones are from within. From pastors, who think they are God’s anointed and can do anything they want, including spiritually abusing their people. From elders, who think they can casually run a church like a business but lack the personal spiritual maturity even to appear to be Christians. From people in the church who think they have the right to complain, gossip, and slander to feel good about themselves. And in their wake, all these people leave one damaged church after another.

There should be no doubt about it. If any individual destroys a temple of God (and refuses to repent), God's promise is that he will destroy them. I wonder what a church would look like where every individual took this threat seriously? I wonder what it would be like to listen to a pastor balance God’s love and threats of destruction. Both are part of God’s character and behavior.