that your body is a temple
In the context of the Corinthian church, which was situated in a city known for its immorality and pagan worship, the concept of the body as a temple would have been striking. Temples in the ancient world were sacred spaces dedicated to deities, and the idea that one's body could serve as such a space elevates the physical body to a place of spiritual significance. This aligns with the Old Testament understanding of the temple as the dwelling place of God (1 Kings 8:27-30).

of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's indwelling presence is a key aspect of New Testament theology, marking the believer as set apart for God. This indwelling is a fulfillment of the promise found in Ezekiel 36:27, where God promises to put His Spirit within His people. The Holy Spirit empowers, guides, and sanctifies believers, making them holy and enabling them to live according to God's will.

who is in you
This phrase underscores the intimate and personal nature of the Holy Spirit's presence. Unlike the Old Testament, where God's presence was often external and associated with specific locations or objects, the New Testament reveals a more personal relationship where God dwells within the believer. This indwelling is a constant source of strength and guidance.

whom you have received from God?
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God, given to believers at the moment of salvation. This aligns with the promise of Jesus in John 14:16-17, where He speaks of sending the Helper, the Spirit of truth. The reception of the Holy Spirit is not based on human merit but is a gracious act of God, emphasizing the believer's dependence on divine provision.

You are not your own;
This statement challenges the prevailing cultural norms of autonomy and self-ownership. In the Greco-Roman world, personal freedom and self-determination were highly valued. However, Paul reminds the Corinthians that, as believers, they belong to God. This concept is rooted in the idea of redemption, where believers are bought with a price, as further explained in the following verse (1 Corinthians 6:20). This ownership by God calls for a life of obedience and submission to His will.

Paul’s opening question jolts the Corinthians—he assumes they should already grasp this truth. Like a loving coach, he reminds them of what they should have settled in their hearts.

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 drives the point home: “Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

• Romans 6:16 shows how Paul often uses this phrase to awaken believers to spiritual realities they may be neglecting.

The lesson: ignorance is no excuse; believers are called to live out gospel facts they already possess.

The word “temple” evokes the sacred place where God’s presence dwelt in the Old Testament. Here Paul applies that imagery to every believer’s physical body.

• 2 Corinthians 6:16 affirms, “For we are the temple of the living God”.

• John 2:21 notes that Jesus spoke “about the temple of His body,” linking Christ’s own body to God’s dwelling.

• Romans 12:1 urges us to “offer your bodies as living sacrifices…your spiritual service of worship”.

Practical takeaways:

– Our bodies are not disposable shells; they are sacred space.

– What happens in and to the body matters to God.

This temple status rests on a glorious reality: the Holy Spirit personally indwells each believer.

• John 14:17 promises, “He abides with you and will be in you”.

• Romans 8:11 adds that the Spirit who raised Jesus “dwells within you” and will give life to our mortal bodies.

Because the Spirit lives inside, holiness is not merely external rule-keeping; it’s responsive fellowship with the Resident within.

The indwelling Spirit is a gift, not a human achievement.

• Acts 2:38 guarantees, “You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

• Luke 11:13 reminds us that the Father “will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him”.

• Ephesians 1:13 declares that believers are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”.

Respond with gratitude, not pride; stewardship, not neglect.

Paul finishes with a truth that redefines self-ownership. God purchased us through Christ, so ultimate rights belong to Him.

• 1 Corinthians 7:23 states, “You were bought at a price”.

• Titus 2:14 says Jesus “redeem[ed] us…to purify for Himself a people for His own possession”.

• Galatians 2:20 echoes, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”.

Daily implications:

– Honor God with moral choices.

– Treat your body with respect—health, sexuality, habits, and media intake all fall under His ownership.

– Serve others; the life you live is on loan from the Redeemer.

1 Corinthians 6:19 teaches that every believer’s physical body is God’s holy temple because the Holy Spirit lives within. This indwelling is a gracious gift from the Father, and it means we no longer possess ultimate authority over ourselves. Knowing this, we cherish our bodies, pursue holiness, and live gratefully under God’s rightful ownership.

There are two reasons why we are not our own. (1) The Spirit which has possession of our bodies is not our own, but given us "of God." (2) We have been bought with a price, even the blood of Christ; it is a completed purchase (1Peter 1:18-19). Our bodies not being our own to do as we like with, we have no right to give them over unto sin. The last words of the verse are not a cold logical deduction from the previous argument, but rather an earnest exhortation suggested by the solemn thought of our oneness with Christ, and the price paid by Him to make us His.

The words "and in your spirits," which are in the Authorised version, are not in the older Greek MSS. They were probably added to give a kind of verbal completeness to the exhortation. They only tend, however, to weaken the force of the passage as St. Paul wrote it. The dignity of the body is the subject of the previous passage, and the necessity for its purity the sole theme of the entire argument.