John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:16

"Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" — 1 Corinthians 3:16 (ASV)

Do you not know, etc.? Having admonished the teachers about their duty, he now addresses the pupils — so that they, too, may take heed to themselves. To the teachers he had said, “You are the master-builders of the house of God.” He now says to the people, “You are the temples of God. It is your responsibility, therefore, to take care that you are not defiled in any way.” Now, the purpose is that they may not prostitute themselves to the service of men.

He confers distinguished honor upon them by speaking this way, but it is so that they may be made more blameworthy; for, as God has set them apart as a temple to Himself, He has at the same time appointed them to be guardians of His temple. It is sacrilege, then, if they give themselves up to the service of men.

He speaks of all of them collectively as being one temple of God; for every believer is living stone (1 Peter 2:5), for the building up of God’s building. At the same time they also, in some cases, individually receive the name of temples. We will find him a little later (1 Corinthians 6:19) repeating the same sentiment, but for another purpose.

For in that passage he discusses chastity; but here, on the other hand, he exhorts them to have their faith resting on the obedience of Christ alone. The interrogation gives additional emphasis, for he indirectly suggests that he is speaking to them about something they knew, as he appeals to them as witnesses.

And the Spirit of God. Here we have the reason why they are the temple of God. Hence and must be understood as meaning because. This is customary, as in the words of the poet — “You had heard it, and it had been reported.” “For this reason,” he says, “you are the temples of God, because He dwells in you by His Spirit; for no unclean place can be the habitation of God.” In this passage we have an explicit testimony for maintaining the divinity of the Holy Spirit. For if He were a creature, or merely a gift, He would not make us temples of God by dwelling in us. At the same time we learn how God communicates Himself to us, and by what tie we are bound to Him — when He pours down upon us the influence of His Spirit.