16Do you not know that you are God's inner sanctuary, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? [3:17] If anyone ruins God's inner sanctuary, God will ruin him — for God's inner sanctuary is holy, and you are that sanctuary. [3:18] Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks himself to be wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he may become wise. [3:19] For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: "He catches the wise in their own cunning." [3:20] And again: "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is futile." [3:21] So let no one boast in human beings — for all things are yours: [3:22] whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — all are yours, [3:23] and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
1CO 3:16-23
Godʼs Temple and Godʼs Wisdom
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Corinth, the (temple) was a central institution, both in Greco-Roman civic religion and Jewish worship. The specifically referred to the inner sanctuary, the dwelling place of the deity, a space of holiness and divine presence. For Paul’s audience, the claim that they collectively are God’s , inhabited by the Spirit, would have been striking. It elevates the community to a sacred status, while also warning against defiling this holiness through division or moral corruption . The contrast between worldly wisdom and divine foolishness reflects the cultural tension in Corinth, a city enamored with philosophical rhetoric and intellectual prestige. Paul critiques the (cunning) of human wisdom, aligning it with the present (age), which stands in opposition to God’s eternal reality. This passage subverts the Corinthians’ pride in human wisdom, framing it as folly in light of God’s paradoxical wisdom revealed in the cross.
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How other translations render this
1CO 3:16
- KJV
- Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
- BSB
- Do you not know that you yourselves are Godʼs temple, and that Godʼs Spirit dwells in you?
- Koinōnos
- Do you not know that you are God's inner sanctuary, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1CO 3:17
- KJV
- If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
- BSB
- If anyone destroys Godʼs temple, God will destroy him; for Godʼs temple is holy, and you are that temple.
- Koinōnos
- If anyone ruins God's inner sanctuary, God will ruin him — for God's inner sanctuary is holy, and you are that sanctuary.
1CO 3:18
- KJV
- Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
- BSB
- Let 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.
- Koinōnos
- Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks himself to be wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he may become wise.
1CO 3:19
- KJV
- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
- BSB
- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in Godʼs sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”
- Koinōnos
- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written: "He catches the wise in their own cunning.
1CO 3:20
- KJV
- And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
- BSB
- And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”
- Koinōnos
- And again: "The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is futile.
1CO 3:21
- KJV
- Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
- BSB
- Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
- Koinōnos
- So let no one boast in human beings — for all things are yours:
1CO 3:22
- KJV
- Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
- BSB
- whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
- Koinōnos
- whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come — all are yours,
1CO 3:23
- KJV
- And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.
- BSB
- and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
- Koinōnos
- and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1CO 3:16
- temple:The word translated 'temple' here refers specifically to the inner sanctuary of a temple, the dwelling place of the deity, not the entire temple complex.
1CO 3:17
- destroys,:The term translated 'destroys' implies a complete ruin or corruption, often with a sense of moral decay or perversion, not just physical demolition.
1CO 3:18
- age:The word translated 'age' refers to a distinct period of time with its own characteristics and values, rather than simply a duration of years.
1CO 3:19
- craftiness:The word translated 'craftiness' often carried a negative connotation of unscrupulous cunning or trickery, used for selfish gain, rather than mere cleverness.