1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Meaning & Devotional
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
What This Verse Means
Paul shocks the Corinthians with a radical claim: your body is God's temple. In the Old Testament, God's presence dwelt in the temple. Now, through the Holy Spirit, He dwells in believers. This makes your body sacred space.
The implication is profound: 'ye are not your own.' You were purchased — redeemed — by Christ's blood. How you treat your body is a spiritual matter because it houses the Spirit of God.
Historical Context
Corinth was famous for sexual immorality, and some Christians believed that since the body would eventually decay, what they did with it didn't matter. Paul demolishes this argument: the body matters because God lives in it.
How to Apply This Today
Treat your body as what it is — God's temple. What you eat, how you rest, what you do with your body matters spiritually. Honor God in your physical life, not just your spiritual life.
Related Verses
Romans 12:1
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."
2 Corinthians 6:16
"For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them."
1 Thessalonians 4:4
"That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour."
🙏 A Prayer from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Lord, my body is Your temple. Help me honor You in how I treat it — what I consume, how I rest, and how I live physically. I belong to You. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Bible Questions
Common questions people ask about this passage — answered with KJV scripture.
What Does the Bible Say About Sexual Purity?
The Bible calls believers to reserve sexual intimacy for marriage, teaching that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that purity honors God.
Read answerWhat Is the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit?
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the permanent residence of the Spirit in every believer from the moment of conversion, making the body a temple of God and guaranteeing our final redemption.
Read answerWhat Does the Bible Say About Tobacco?
While the Bible does not mention tobacco by name, the principle that the believer's body is the temple of the Holy Spirit calls Christians to avoid habits that defile or harm the physical body God has entrusted to them.
Read answerWhat Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the work of Christ placing believers into His body at salvation, empowering them for service and sealing them for eternity.
Read answerWhat Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit distributes supernatural abilities to believers — including wisdom, healing, prophecy, and teaching — for building up the body of Christ.
Read answerWhat Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the work of Christ whereby believers are immersed in the Spirit, empowered for service, and incorporated into the body of Christ.
Read answerDeep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Commentary
In-depth study • Body as Temple
1 Corinthians 6:19 — Meaning & Devotional
Holiness
1 Corinthians 3:17 Commentary
In-depth study • The Sober Warning Against Wrecking the Temple
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 — Meaning & Devotional
Love
2 Corinthians 12:9 — Meaning & Devotional
Grace
Temple (ἱερόν (hieron))
God's dwelling place — the sacred house where His presence resides.
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