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Epiphany Season · Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

You Are God's Temple

February 22, 2026

Official Laying of the Cornerstone of the New Church of Sainte-Geneviève, Pierre-Antoine Demachy
Official Laying of the Cornerstone of the New Church of Sainte-Geneviève, Pierre-Antoine Demachy, 1765Musée Carnavalet, Paris
A French painter of architecture records the ceremony for the church that later became the Panthéon, with the king present and the scaffolding already up.No one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid, that foundation is Jesus Christ.Musée Carnavalet, ParisThe museum of the history of Paris, in two Marais mansions, holding the city's own record of itself and free to enter.Musée Carnavalet, Paris
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:38-48Mt 5:38-48
Epistle1 Cor. 3:10-11, 16-231 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23
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 builder who laid Christ as the church's one foundation, and warns against destroying what belongs to God. He tells the Corinthians they collectively are God's temple, so no one should boast in human leaders since everything already belongs to them in Christ.

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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:10-23 Commentaries1 Cor 3:10-23 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries on the temple and foundation imagery.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Enduring Word

A pastoral walk through Paul's building and temple images for the church.

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

The RCL preaching commentary on this exact pericope for Year A.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 Commentary1 Cor 3:10-11,16-23 Commentary CEP

A preaching-focused reading of the church as God's temple.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Precept Austin

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of the chapter's warning and promise.

1 Corinthians 3 - Gill's Exposition1 Cor 3 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's older exposition for additional historic detail on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 Interlinear1 Cor 3:10-11 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the underlying Greek for foundation, builder, and temple.

Book of 1 Corinthians OverviewBook of 1 Cor Overview BibleProject

An animated overview locating this passage within Paul's argument to Corinth.

Fathers

1 Corinthians 3 Catena1 Cor 3 Catena Catena

Early church comment on Paul's temple and foundation imagery.

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