2 Corinthians 6:16 (KJV)

What does 2 Corinthians 6:16 mean?

2 Corinthians 6:16 says that there can be no real connection between God’s temple and idols, because believers themselves are now the temple where the living God dwells. Paul reminds the Corinthians that God has promised to live among His people and be their God, and they will be His people.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, urging them to separate themselves from pagan practices and influences. He uses the image of the temple—a sacred place dedicated to God—to show that believers, as God’s dwelling place, must not mix their faith with idol worship or anything that dishonors God’s presence among them.

The Greek behind 2 Corinthians 6:16

• συμφώνησις (sumphōnēsis, “agreement”): This word means a harmony or accord, and its use here highlights the total incompatibility between God’s temple and idols—there is no shared ground or partnership.
• ναός (naos, “temple”): This refers specifically to the inner sanctuary, the most sacred part of the temple, emphasizing the holiness of believers as God’s dwelling place.
• ἐνοικέω (enoikeō, “dwell”): This verb means to live or reside within, stressing that God’s presence is not distant but actually lives among and within His people.

Why 2 Corinthians 6:16 matters

• This verse clarifies that Paul is not just talking about physical buildings but about people themselves being God’s temple, which was a radical idea for his original audience.
• It emphasizes the seriousness of idolatry for Christians, showing that mixing pagan practices with faith in God is not just discouraged but impossible for those who are God’s dwelling place.
• The verse connects to the wider passage, where Paul is urging the Corinthians to live in a way that reflects their new identity and relationship with God, set apart from the surrounding culture.