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Epiphany · Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

1 Corinthians 3:10-23

You Are God's Temple

February 22, 2026

The Building of the Temple of Solomon: The Construction of the Temple, Jean Bondol
The Building of the Temple of Solomon: The Construction of the Temple, Jean Bondol, 1372KB, National Library of the Netherlands, via Europeana
A French manuscript miniature of the temple going up, drawn as a medieval building site with masons, hods and a treadwheel crane.Like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?Jean BondolA Bruges painter and illuminator who worked for Charles V of France and designed the Apocalypse of Angers tapestries.KB, National Library of the Netherlands, via EuropeanaThe national library of the Netherlands, holding a major collection of medieval illuminated manuscripts.KB, National Library of the Netherlands, via Europeana
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:38-48Mt 5:38-48
Epistle1 Cor. 3:10-231 Cor 3:10-23
Old TestamentLev. 19:1-2, 9-18Lv 19:1-2, 9-18
PsalterPs. 119:33-40Ps 119:33-40

Overview & Insights

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Paul describes himself as a skilled master builder who laid the foundation of the Corinthian church, a foundation that is Jesus Christ alone, and warns that each person's work on that foundation will be tested by fire. He calls the church God's temple, indwelt by God's Spirit, and closes by telling the Corinthians to stop boasting in human leaders, since Paul, Apollos, the world, life, death, the present, and the future all belong to them, and they belong to Christ, and Christ to God.

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Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23Commentary on 1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23 Working Preacher

Reads the temple language as a warning about how the church keeps building on Christ's foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 Commentary1 Cor 3:10-11,16-23 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed homiletical read on grace, since believers house God's Spirit imperfectly and are saved anyway.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse by verse evangelical notes on the foundation, the fire that tests each builder's work, and the temple.

1 Corinthians 3:10 Commentaries1 Cor 3:10 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries gathered in one place for cross checking.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Precept Austin

An inductive study hub with verse by verse links on spiritual maturity and boasting in men.

1 Corinthians 31 Cor 3 1517.org

A Lutheran resource hub for the chapter, including material on the foundation and temple verses.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 3:10 Interlinear1 Cor 3:10 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for checking foundation, temple, and boast.

1 Corinthians Video1 Cor Video BibleProject

An overview video tracing the letter's argument end to end.

The Church Fathers

1 Corinthians 3 Catena1 Cor 3 Catena Catena

Patristic comment on the one foundation and the temple of the Spirit.

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