Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:17

"If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye." — 1 Corinthians 3:17 (ASV)

If any man defile.—Better, If any man destroy—the opposite of “building up,” which should be the work of the Christian teacher; the architectural image being still in view.

Which temple you are.—Literally, the which are you, “which” referring rather to “holy” than to “the temple”; the argument being that because you are “holy” by the indwelling of God’s Spirit, therefore you are the temple of God. As God commanded the punishment of death to be inflicted on whoever defiled the actual Temple (Leviticus 16:2), because it was holy to the Lord and His presence dwelt there; so you, having the same Spirit in you, are a temple also holy to the Lord, and God will not leave unpunished anyone who destroys or mars this spiritual temple.