If anyone defiles the temple of God...

"If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." ~ 1 Corinthians 3:17

I hear people use this verse quite often in regard to smoking tobacco and other things that one perceives may be detrimental to ones physical well being (even consuming corn syrup or "gmo" food)...

But if we truly look at it in it's context - I don't find this to be a true and faithful application of this verse. I checked a few respected commentators to test my position and the ones I looked at confirm my position.

The context is "building" the church in terms of teaching doctrine - and this truly has very practical ramifications. But the subject is teachers, division/unity, and working in God's field and on His building - as teachers/ministers.

It seems clear to me that that which is in sight here, that which "destroys the temple of God", is false doctrine which leads to sin.

Any thoughts on this?

If you are one that believes this verse applies to food and drink (or other like things), and care to voice your position, would you kindly share why you believe such an interpretation is warranted/supported by the context and biblically sound - and as a bonus: if you know of a commentator/preacher/teacher that shares your position, would you please also share who it is and his (or her) words?

P.S. The commentators I checked (which held that it was teaching/doctrine which led to sin that was in view) were: Albert Barnes, Adam Clarke, and John Wesley's notes. They are ones I look at from time to time. Here is a good place to do so yourself - if you are so inclined: http://biblehub.com/

Edit: changed punctuation in the fourth paragraph.

Good one F,

You are 100 percent correct!I also never saw it before.

I just read through that portion quickly from chapter 2 to chapter 4 and its focus is the foundation Paul laid, being Jesus Christ, and that we need to be careful of gathering to ourselves specific teachers etc.
We should build upon the foundation using scripturally sound doctrine and beware of defiling God's temple (the church) with the mere teachings of men.

Thanks for that.

Blessings,

The actual verse that speaks about our body being the temple of God is 1 Corinthians 6:19.....

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

v.20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

The context / subject here is not to use your body for sexual immorality. General food and drink would not apply, as Jesus clearly said that what goes into the body does not defile it, as it goes out again.(Matt 15:17).

Edit: Add.. However drunkenness, smoking, mind altering drugs, etc could be applied from this as also defiling your body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Dave I think if we take the scripture for what is says .....

Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19Or 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, 20for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Then only sexually immorality is sinning against the body or the temple ,,,there seems to be no other sin in this context ,so what you said would be misapplication of the text .......

Forest you are spot about what Paul is talking regarding false teaching , when he uses the word defile

Gary, Yes point taken.
My main reason was to show the scripture that actually deals with the body as a temple. I later thought about, and added that it could (meaning might) be possible that these other abuses also be against the body/temple, but I do take your point...it does say every other sin is outside the body.

Thank you all for the feedback and encouragement.

Jeffmar1130, you say (in my words) the following in regards to proof-texts vs. understanding scripture in light of its context:

I am more and more convinced of the importance (& seemingly lost focus) on this within the church for the most part.

I also feel that it is preachers and "prophets" who say "I have a dream," and "who use their tongues and say, ‘He says,’"...they have an agenda, a word, which is theirs and not of the Lord and they seek to use the scripture to make their point. I see it quite often.

I also believe the condition mentioned above, the preachers and prophets who 'use their tongues' is also partly due to the unbiblical method of approaching church/ministry today and the resulting error of a "clergy/laity" mindset...but I digress a bit.

Perhaps we can start a thread and share some glaring occurrences of twisting the scriptures to fit mans agenda that we have observed (covering the brother who we perceive is guilty of it, of course, as love would require - and as far as it would permit) or even been guilty of ourselves in the past? For the sake of exposing this dangerous practice and admonishing the saints to "test all things" and "hold fast to" [only] "that which is good" [/of God].

Edit: removed a reckless and excessive apostrophe in "its" in the second sentence. ;)

sermonindex From verse 16 it speaks of a plurality of God's people. So I would simply say this verse speaks of those who are false teachers and destroyers of the faith of some who come in and bring dis-unity and division amongst God's people. Such problems where happening in the Corinthian Church.

God is against and will destroy those who ultimately oppose the building of His Church on the earth.

I agree! Who are these temple destroyers? Many scholars believe that these temple destroyers must be unbelievers. The problem with this view is that only Christians are mentioned in the immediate context (3:5-17). There is no indication that Paul has transitioned to speak of unbelievers. The natural interpretation of this verse is that believers are under consideration. This ought to disturb all of us! Paul is saying that it is possible for true Christians to destroy local churches. This means that the greatest threat to our churches comes from within, not from without. The greatest enemies of the church are insiders, not outsiders.