1 Corinthians 3:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him." Do you see the force of the discourse?

Yet so long as the person rebuked is not openly identified, the rebuke is not so heavy, because all share in the fear of the reproach.

"He will destroy," that is, He will hand him over to perdition. Here the Apostle does not curse, but foretells.

"For God’s temple," he says, "is holy," and he adds, "which you are."

Paul, rebuking those who did not wait for the brethren at the common suppers, says, "I do not praise you" (1 Cor 11:17). Do you see? That sin is subject only to censure, and rebuke serves as its punishment.

But he does not act so when speaking of fornication. How, then, does he speak? "If anyone," he says, "destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him" (1 Cor 3:17).

Here there is no longer reproach or censure, but the heaviest punishment.

"If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him." That is, He will destroy him. These words express not a curse, but a prediction of the future. "For the temple of God is holy, and this temple you are." Therefore the fornicator cannot be holy, because he has ceased to be the temple of God by driving out the Spirit Who sanctified him. Who then constitutes this temple? You do, if you remain pure.

If anyone damages the temple of God by hatred, fornication, or anything like these, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, and such are you. See Ps 140:3. "If anyone corrupts the temple of God, God will corrupt him," says divine Scripture. Resist the demon of fornication vigorously, as one would resist a dog. In no way consent to be carried away by such a thought. From a spark many coals will come, and from an evil thought evil desires are multiplied. Strive to destroy the memory of them more than the stench of a secret foulness.

The Apostle speaks these words to sting the conscience of those who lead a shameful life and defile their body with debauchery. He speaks especially to those who enter into intimate relations with their father's wife. See 1 Cor 5:1.

If we render fitting honor to a temple built of wood, it is far more just to dedicate rational temples to God. It should be noted that he called those in whom the grace of the Spirit dwells temples of God. For this word bears witness that the All-Holy Spirit is God.

"If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him," that is, the body. Thus one who destroys his soul and mind with impure passions, by submitting to them and receiving them into himself, becomes liable to punishment for invisible sins.

Therefore, just as it is necessary to preserve the body pure from open and visible sins, because it is the temple of God, so it is necessary to preserve the soul pure from bad and impure thoughts.

This is so that one may not voluntarily ruin the heart and defile the mind. As it is said somewhere, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the springs of life."

The Apostle first said, "You are God’s building." Then he showed what the foundation of this divine building is, saying, "For no one can lay any other foundation than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor 3:11).

Now he says that this building, whose foundation is Jesus Christ, is the temple of God, and that this temple consists of all who believe in Christ.

"Do you not know," he says, "that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? For the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple."

The prophets also said the same, as did the Only-begotten Son of God Himself. The prophet Ezekiel taught in the person of God speaking: "My dwelling shall be in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Ezek 37:27).

"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? For the temple of God is holy, which you are."

The Stundists say that there should be no other temples besides the temple which, according to the Apostle Paul, each believer represents in himself.

But one also cannot deny that, according to the Apostle Peter, all believers must make up one spiritual temple (1 Pet 2:5). It is surely called a temple not in vain, but because the Lord also dwells in it, and the Holy Spirit dwells in it.

If we also remember the words of Jesus Christ Himself (Mt 5:34-35), heaven is the throne of God and the earth is God’s footstool.

"If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will punish him; for the temple of God is holy, and this temple you are." "Destroy" means to hand over to perdition. The Apostle does not curse, but foretells, as Chrysostom says. What stronger admonition could one expect? One feels the sword over the head, as Bishop Theophan says.

To stir up heartfelt mutual respect among Christians, so that they may guide one another toward sanctification and salvation, the Apostle reminds the Corinthians that Christians form not a simple building, but a holy temple in which the Spirit of God dwells.

Therefore, whoever corrupts Christians by any false factions, and still more by false teaching, not only fails to build this temple. He brings into it destructive materials which can serve for its humiliation and defilement.

Yet in this temple, as the temple of God, there should be only what is holy and eternally indestructible.

It is clear that destroyers and defilers must bear a punishment corresponding both to the greatness of the temple of God and to the boldness of their deed.

"If anyone corrupts the temple of God, God will corrupt him." Whoever defiles the spiritual temple of God in his soul and body by impure thoughts and evil desires, and destroys it by deeds of sin and lawlessness, must take care. If he does not hasten to restore and renew it by repentance and a corrected life, then the long-suffering but righteous God will finally destroy him by His righteous judgment. That is, He will permit him to remain an eternal ruin of life, trampled by dark powers.

Although he speaks generally, "If anyone destroys," he clearly hints at those who had produced and supported the division. He does not say that they had already destroyed it.

In that case, the Apostle would have written and acted differently. Yet he also does not regard what had already been done as insignificant.

He rightly assumes that if the same state of affairs continues, the division will take root, especially if some accidents increase the dividing wall.

Then this will become true destruction. He frightens them with the possibility of such an outcome.

It began from frivolity and idleness, but this is what it may end in: the Church will be divided and destroyed. All the guilt will fall on you.