Topics à Bible Study, Church

Todd Clippard

The temple of God in this text refers to the local church.  The KJV's use of "ye" in "ye are the temple" reveals that Paul is speaking to the church collectively, as "ye" in the KJV is a plural subjective pronoun. 

To understand the passage in question, one must go all the way back to verse 1 (and perhaps even to chapter 1).  In what context does Paul speak of destroying the temple of God?  Verses 1-4 in the chapter reveal the subject under consideration is division in the church.  In fact, Paul repeats the point he made earlier in chapter 1 (vv 10-13).  The Corinthians lack of maturity was creating the problem of division within the body.

Another important consideration to understanding the text is to know that the word translated "defile" in verse 17 is the exact same word as that rendered "destroy" later in the same verse.  So Paul here condemns those who would destroy the body of Christ be creating factions and divisions among it.

Though the principle here addresses the local church, I believe the application may also be made to the church universal.  One must be very careful not to create strife and division among brethren at any time or place.