1 Corinthians 3:16

[shernren]

This verse is often used with respect to our bodies. A common application I saw recently was:

"You shouldn't tattoo. The Bible says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't that mean that tattooing would desecrate it?"

(Not that I'm particularly for tattooing. Just an example.)

Thought about it because today pastor was preaching from that chapter, and as I read over it I realized that to me, Paul is talking more about the church, and "temple" here refers more to the corporate body of believers than to the body of any single believer. Am I right to say this?

 

[BalaamsAss51]

Hello Shernren.

Let's put verse 16 into context. From a commentary by Gregory Lockwood - "1 Cor. 3:12-15 is a solemn warning to all Christians that proper construction of the church is a project precious to God; he will not tolerate workmanship that does not serve the Gospel and thereby promote the church's integrity and unity."

He goes on - "After picturing the Corinthian church as God's field and God's building Paul now specifies what kind of building the Corinthians are. Gently, he shames them a little for their lack of self-awareness: 'Don't you know that you are the temple of God?'. Like the temple of the OT, constructed with gold, silver, and precious stones, they are a precious, divine sanctuary. Just as the glory of God dwelt in the OT tabernacle and temple, so for Paul the church is now the place where God's glory dwells. If the Corinthians would only be conscious of their significance as God's sanctuary, the dwelling place of his Spirit, they would want to adorn and build it up rather than tearing it apart (1 Cor. 1:10). They were not acting as spiritual people. The jealousy and strife among them manifested immaturity and worldliness."

Going on to verse 17, this is a solemn warning not only to the Corinthians but to the church of all ages that if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. This destroying of God's temple is by false teaching or destructive practices.

Having said all the above, I think that limiting v 16 to just defilement of our bodies in the sense of treating them badly does not go deep enough. It's not that our bodies are just flesh and blood, but they are now where God dwells. As such they are very important things. And must be treated with respect. As for tattoos, I think they're neat.

Pax

 

[daveleau]

I tend to rely on the freedom that Scripture gives us (Gal 5:1 for example). To say all tattoos (piggy-backing on your example) are wrong reminds me of the Law rather than Scriptural freedom. I believe the intent is what is measured by God as right or wrong. Granted, I think most tattoos are for the wrong intentions. It depends on whether it would benefit your ability to testify to the Gospel.
1 Cor 6:19-20 directly speaks of our bodies being temples for the Holy Spirit. It is speaking about sexual sin, but this principle applies in many situations regarding sin (as does 1 Cor 3:16, IMO). The debate would begin as to what constitutes harm of the temple. Many will not ingest caffeine, or even meat. But, this is where our freedom comes in again, and moderation is the key.

 

[dcyates]

This verse is often used with respect to our bodies. A common application I saw recently was:

"You shouldn't tattoo. The Bible says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't that mean that tattooing would desecrate it?"

(Not that I'm particularly for tattooing. Just an example.)

Thought about it because today pastor was preaching from that chapter, and as I read over it I realized that to me, Paul is talking more about the church, and "temple" here refers more to the corporate body of believers than to the body of any single believer. Am I right to say this?

This verse is indeed referring to the corporate body constituting "God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (plural)." And it should be noted this application is, by far, the predominant emphasis of this metaphor. But this is not to say that the idea that Christians, as individuals, do not also constitute individual temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 6.15-19).

 

[dcyates]

I tend to rely on the freedom that Scripture gives us (Gal 5:1 for example). To say all tattoos (piggy-backing on your example) are wrong reminds me of the Law rather than Scriptural freedom. I believe the intent is what is measured by God as right or wrong. Granted, I think most tattoos are for the wrong intentions. It depends on whether it would benefit your ability to testify to the Gospel.
1 Cor 6:19-20 directly speaks of our bodies being temples for the Holy Spirit. It is speaking about sexual sin, but this principle applies in many situations regarding sin (as does 1 Cor 3:16, IMO). The debate would begin as to what constitutes harm of the temple. Many will not ingest caffeine, or even meat. But, this is where our freedom comes in again, and moderation is the key.

Yeah. Like Dave says.

Only, I would beg to differ, Dave, with your stance on the ostensible Scriptural prohibition of tatoos. (And I should hasten to add that I neither have one, nor do I ever plan on getting one.) The Levitical text concerned with skin tatoos does not appear to proscribe them based on any other reason but their culturally concomitant associations with paganism. Something I don't think most people associate with tatoos today.

 

[MichelangeloBuonarroti]

What about a tatoo of a Cross? I was thinking about gettin a big cross on my back with a good quote on it... =/

 

[daveleau]

Oh, I'm not against tattoos, I'm just against any tattoos that will dminish your ability to testify and those gotten with selfish intentions.

What about a tatoo of a Cross? I was thinking about gettin a big cross on my back with a good quote on it... =/

My wife has 2 tattoos of crosses. These are the only tattoos she has. (I have none, but not because of not wanting one in my youth.) She got these because she is an artist (Art Institute graduate) and a devout Christian. She loves the cross symbol, so she got these about 8-10 years ago. I don't see anything wrong with this.

 

[shernren]

But this is not to say that the idea that Christians, as individuals, do not also constitute individual temples of the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Cor 6.15-19).

Ahh ... I kinda forgot about the "other" "temple of the Holy Spirit" passage in that opening post. Hehe. Yeah I don't think the argument from Leviticus extends very well to tattooing, I believe that in the context it would refer to shamanistic or Eastern Semitic religious practices which involve tattooing, which most modern tattoing (especially Christian ones!) don't involve. Still I wouldn't personally go for a tattoo. Squeamish.

 

[TasManOfGod]

If God didn't want the Children of Israel to permanently mark their bodies (so they would be Holy ), why would He change His mind now and condone us for doing it (some even claiming that it is being Holy to do so)?

 

[filosofer]

Perhaps it relates to allowing any food to be eaten, now, even though it was forbidden for Israel.

In Christ's love,
filo

 

[Stinker]

This verse is often used with respect to our bodies. A common application I saw recently was:

"You shouldn't tattoo. The Bible says that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Doesn't that mean that tattooing would desecrate it?"

(Not that I'm particularly for tattooing. Just an example.)

Thought about it because today pastor was preaching from that chapter, and as I read over it I realized that to me, Paul is talking more about the church, and "temple" here refers more to the corporate body of believers than to the body of any single believer. Am I right to say this?

Daveleau made reference to (1Cor.6:19) in post #3, and since it is referring to a Christian's physical body and in the following verse it says just what does desecrate it, here is the quote:

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1Cor.6:18)

 

[TasManOfGod]

Perhaps it relates to allowing any food to be eaten, now, even though it was forbidden for Israel.

In Christ's love,
filo

Do you actually know why God made the laws regarding food and other things? -because it was best for their health and well being . Now there are certain things that dont change with scientific food production/processing wisdom -the effects of sexual sins as well as doing tats to name a couple.