2 Corinthians 6:16

What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Corinthian church while concluding his appeal for financial support and spiritual integrity. He addresses them during a period of intense conflict with false apostles who were undermining his authority and the gospel.

The words — συγκατάθεσις (sugkatathesis) literally means agreement or contract, establishing the legal and relational incompatibility between God’s temple and idols. ναός (naós) refers to the temple structure, which Paul applies directly to the collective identity of believers.

The thread — The promise of God dwelling among His people echoes Exodus 29:45 and Hebrews 8:10, where Yahweh pledges to be their God and they His people. Revelation 21:3 later fulfills this pattern by declaring God’s permanent dwelling place with humanity.

Why it lands — The text demands a clear boundary between believers and idolatry, since the community itself constitutes the living temple. Readers must recognize that shared fellowship with unbelief violates the divine claim that God inhabits them.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Cross-references

Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.
Exodus 29:45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.
Jeremiah 32:38 They will be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:26 And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Ezekiel 11:20 so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.
Jeremiah 31:33 “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
Zechariah 2:10 “Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD.