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?

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19KJV
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1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV)

What does 1 Corinthians 6:19 mean?

1 Corinthians 6:19 teaches that each believer’s body is considered a temple where the Holy Spirit lives, and that this presence is a gift from God, so believers do not belong solely to themselves. The verse stresses that because God’s Spirit lives within them, believers are called to recognize their lives and bodies as belonging to God, not just to themselves.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, addressing problems with how some members were treating their bodies, especially in the context of sexual immorality. By calling the body a "temple," Paul uses a powerful image familiar to his audience, reminding them of the sacredness and value God places on their physical lives. The verse is part of a larger section where Paul urges the Corinthians to live in a way that reflects God’s presence within them.

The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 6:19

  • "ναός" (naos, G3485) is translated as "temple" and refers specifically to the inner sanctuary, the most sacred place in the Jewish temple. Paul’s use of this word highlights the deep holiness and honor given to the believer’s body.
  • "πνεῦμα" (pneuma, G4151), translated as "Ghost" or "Spirit," means the Holy Spirit, God’s own presence. Paul’s language makes clear that this is not just a figure of speech but a real, indwelling presence.
  • "οὐκ ἐστὲ ἑαυτῶν" (ouk este heautōn, G3756 + G2075 + G1438), meaning "you are not your own," is a strong statement that believers’ lives are not self-owned but are under God’s authority because of the Spirit’s presence.

Why 1 Corinthians 6:19 matters

  • This verse corrects the idea that spiritual life is separate from physical life, showing that how one treats the body is deeply connected to faith.
  • Paul’s words challenge the Corinthians’ culture, which often saw the body as unimportant or separate from spiritual matters, by insisting that the body itself is holy.
  • The verse ties into the broader argument in 1 Corinthians 6, where Paul is urging believers to avoid behaviors that dishonor God’s presence within them, especially in matters of sexual ethics.

Where else these words appear

“temple” Greek G3485 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 23:16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
  • Luke 1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
  • Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

“are” Greek G2075 · used in 88 verses

  • Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
  • John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
  • 1 Corinthians 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

“body” Greek G4983 · used in 122 verses

  • Matthew 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
  • Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.