Building the Temple-Week 2

kylie
Nov 25
3 min read

We're delving into 1 Corinthians 19-20 this week! If you're new here, read the intro to week 1 for context!

Same framework, utilized chat for context/translation notes/ etc. Bring your own Bible, journal, and prayerful heart to this theme.

Let’s unpack 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 in the same deep-dive way we did Romans 12.

The Text (ESV)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”— 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Historical & Cultural Context

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth — a wealthy, immoral, hyper-sexualized port city infamous for:

Temple prostitution
Moral relativism
Greek dualism (the body doesn’t matter, only the spirit does)
Excess and indulgence

There was a common saying in Corinth:

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food” (v.13)Meaning: If it feels natural, just do it — especially sexually.

Some of the believers were applying this to the body:“What I do physically doesn’t matter since I’m saved spiritually.”

Paul is confronting that false belief head-on.

He is not talking first about diet or exercise — he’s talking about sexual purity and sanctification — but the principle is bigger: Your body literally matters to God.

And that destroys both ends of the spectrum:

The world’s view: Do whatever you want with your body
The religious view: The body is evil and should be neglected

Paul says: Both are wrong.

The body is sacred.

Immediate Context (Verses 12–18)

You can’t fully understand vv.19–20 without seeing what comes before it:

v.12 “All things are lawful” — but not all things are helpful v.13 The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord v.15 Your bodies are members of Christ v.17 You are one spirit with Him v.18 “Flee sexual immorality”

Then comes:

v.19 – Or do you not know that your BODY is a TEMPLE…?

Paul’s argument:

Your body is:

For the Lord
A member of Christ
A dwelling place of the Holy Spirit
Purchased by Christ
Therefore not your own

That is a radical statement.

Original Greek Breakdown (Deep Meaning)

Let’s slow down the language.

“Temple” = ναός (naos)

This doesn’t mean a general temple complex or courtyard.

There were two Greek words:

hieron = the whole temple grounds
naos = the most holy inner sanctuary

Paul uses naos.

That means:

Your body is like the Holy of Holies — the most sacred place where God’s presence dwells.

This is extremely intentional language.

In the Old Testament, the Holy of Holies could only be entered once a year by the High Priest.

Paul says: That’s what you are now.

“Dwells in you” = ἐν ὑμῖν (en hymin)

God isn’t just “around” or “with” you.

He is in you.

Christianity is the only faith where God chooses to dwell inside humans — not temples of stone.

“Bought with a price” = ἡγοράσθητε τιμῆς (ēgorasthete timēs)

This is marketplace language — slavery / freedom imagery.

It literally means:

You were purchased off the auction block.

But instead of becoming slaves again,you become God’s own treasured possession.

The price = the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19).

This is not just emotional language. It’s legal redemption language.

“Glorify God in your body” = δοξάσατε (doxasate)

“Doxa” = glory — weight, reputation, honor.

This command isn’t:

“Don’t hurt your body” It’s: Use your body in a way that makes God look glorious.

That includes:

Sexual purity
Discipline
Strength
Stewardship
Self-control
Nourishment
Rest

Connections to Creation Theology

This refutes the lie that:

The body is bad
The physical world doesn’t matter
Only your “spiritual side” counts

In Genesis:

God created the body → It was good
God breathed into the body → It lived
God became flesh in Jesus → He sanctified the body forever
God will resurrect bodies → He redeems the physical forever

So stewardship of the physical body is actually a doctrine of resurrection.

You don’t trash what God plans to redeem.

Application

For your study / challenge, this verse becomes the foundational truth:

I don’t discipline my body because I hate it. I discipline it because it is sacred.

It flips the whole narrative.

Instead of:

Shame
Punishment
Vanity
Obsession

It becomes:

Reverence
Worship
Honor
Responsibility

Every workout becomes a temple act. Every nourishing meal becomes an offering. Every good night’s sleep becomes reverence instead of laziness.