Do you not know,” he asks, “that you [plural] are God’s…
![“Do you not know,” he asks, “that you [plural] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you [plural]?” (3:16). To read this last sentence as though it spoke of the Spirit dwelling in the body of the individual Christian would be to miss the force of Paul’s audacious metaphor: the…” quote by Richard Hays](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/f5e/richard-hays-82668_glory-of-god_do-you-not-know-he-asks-that-you-plural_2747397.jpg)
““Do you not know,” he asks, “that you [plural] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you [plural]?” (3:16). To read this last sentence as though it spoke of the Spirit dwelling in the body of the individual Christian would be to miss the force of Paul’s audacious metaphor: the apostolically founded community takes the place of the Jerusalem Temple as the place where the glory of God resides.54 When the community suffers division, the temple of God is dishonored. But the presence of the Spirit in the community should produce unity rather than conflict.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Paul likens the Christian community to a temple where God's Spirit dwells, urging unity and warning that division dishonors God.
In simple terms: The community is God's temple; stay united.
Key Takeaway
Foster unity, avoid division.
Themes
community
spirituality
unity
conflict
temple
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- church gatherings
- small groups
- online forums
- interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
Ecclesiology
metaphor
collective identity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your group reflect God’s presence?
- What steps can you take to heal division?
A Different Perspective
Unity can be hard when personal agendas clash.