In 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17, Paul declared, You (collectively) are Gods temple; Gods Spirit continually lives in you. Paul declared that internal division within the congregation was indefensible because the congregation was Gods temple (sanctuary) containing Gods Spirit. Thus, internal division was inappropriate behavior for a local group composed of men and women who were in Christ. The plural pronoun Paul used to indicate he was addressing the congregation is seen in English translations: in the King James Version (contrasting yeplural -(3:16), with any man (3:17), and in the Phillips Modern English translation or the New International Version which both contrast you yourselves (3:16) with anyone (3:17).
In todays text, Paul spoke of the individual Christian as Gods temple. The context is sexual involvement of a Christian by personal choice with a prostitute. Paul said this was inappropriate behavior for a person who has surrendered self to Christ. The argument Paul made is basically the samethe individual Christian contained Gods Spirit.
So which is it? Is a congregation Gods temple? Or is the individual Christian Gods temple? Both! Why both? The same thing makes both the congregation and the individual Christian Gods templepossession of Gods Spirit. A congregation is a collection of men and women who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. Christians are a people who possess Gods Spirit. Whether as individuals or as a congregation, Christians behave as persons who possess Gods Spirit. The presence of God is in them whether they are together or they are pursuing their lives individually. Ungodliness had NO role in their collective or individual behavior. Both internal division (in the congregation) and sexual immorality (in the individual) were/are ungodly.
The meaning and application of this text has been/is much discussed. Two things must be remembered. (1) What todays Christians would regard as undesirable sexual involvement would not even be considered immoral by many in the first century. (2) The existence of choice did not exist for many in slavery. A slave had to do as he or she was instructed to do by an owner. A Christian slaves options were extremely limited. There was a vast difference in being an agreeable, willing, pursuing prostitute and in being a slave. There was a vast difference between pursuing prostitutes as one was motivated and controlled by sexual desire and being a slave.
There was an old history in idolatry of regarding sexual intercourse as a fertility rite. There was an ancient history in idolatry of sacred prostitutes. It could be considered a religious act to involve oneself in temple prostitution. There was also the common act of prostitution that was based on nothing more than the sexual desire of the person. In those two, what most Christians today would consider to be sexually immoral was in the first century (especially among non- Jewish people) common practice. (If you as a Christian view this as strange practices and concepts, have you heard of people today engaging in sexual intercourse for personal gratification without any form of commitment, or an unmarried man and woman living together, or an unmarried man and woman joyfully, deliberately having a child? Perhaps the strangest consideration today is that such sexual intercourse and having children without marriage is considered wonderful and approved in some situations, but shameful and unapproved in other situations.)
Most of us are so far removed from the realities of slaverythe ownership of a person by another personthat we cannot imagine being in an existence that is robbed of choice.
It is extremely important for you to see and understand Pauls approach regarding a Christians willing sexual involvement with a prostitute. Pauls approach: As a Christian, you knowingly, willingly committed your body to Jesus Christ in order that God might live in you through His Spirit. Because you made that commitment to God through Jesus Christ, you are not free to involve the same body in other commitments. Involvement of your body in commitment to Jesus Christ and to a prostitute is an insult to God. Such dual commitment to such opposite influences in you is nothing less than a violation of Gods temple. It is nothing less than (1) taking Gods sanctuary suitable for Gods habitation/presence and (2) making that habitation unfit for Gods presence. Society may regard such actions as an acceptable behavior, but that behavior is a careless affront to what God is and what you committed yourself to being. In understanding, honor your commitment to God!
God made an unspeakable investment in you! Invest your body to be Gods temple! Gods investment in you through Jesus Christ was not a partial investment based on a contradictory commitment! Do not make your investment of your body in God partial or contradictory.
Pauls point would have been profound and clear to those who lived among temples. You understood what you were doing when you decided to be a Christian! Your decision was based on choice, not deception! Do not attempt to do the impossible nowto be godly and ungodly at the same time by using your body for contradictory purposes! It cannot be done! You cannot invest the same body in opposing pursuits! You can only devote your physical existence to the pursuit of God or to the pursuit of godlessness!
Commitment to Christ must be an understood commitment! Note that Pauls appeal is based on commitment and the use of physical existence. Christian existence is an understood commitment, not a mindless ritual.
For Thought and Discussion
1. What was Gods temple in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17? In 6:15-20?
2. How could both be considered Gods temple (sanctuary)?
3. What two things should be remembered?
4. Discuss how many could consider sexual intercourse without marriage commitment as okay.
5. Illustrate how today people consider sexual intercourse without marriage commitment okay.
6. What was Pauls approach to willing sexual involvement with a prostitute?
7. What was/is an insult to God? Why?
8. Discuss Gods investment in a Christian.
9. What did they make to God when they became a Christian?
10. Discuss the meaning of understood commitment.
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 9