2 Corinthians 6:16 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul declares that believers are the temple of the living God, in whom God himself dwells and walks, claiming them as his own people.
What Does 2 Corinthians 6:16 Mean?
Paul asks his final question, then answers it with a soaring promise. A temple of God can have no agreement with idols, for the believers themselves are now the temple of the living God. He gathers words from passages such as Leviticus 26 and Ezekiel 37 to declare what God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them, I will be their God and they my people.
This is the heart of the gospel's wonder. God does not merely visit his people; he makes his home in them. The living God walks in the midst of those he has claimed. To be his temple is both a high honor and a tender belonging, for the same God who is holy beyond reach chooses to live close, calling a people his own and giving himself to be their God.
2 Corinthians 6:16 in the Original Language
naos (ναός), 'temple' -- the inner sanctuary, the dwelling place where God himself is present.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Corinthians 6:16
What does 2 Corinthians 6:16 mean?
Paul declares that believers are the temple of the living God, in whom God himself dwells and walks, claiming them as his own people.