Short answer: 1 Corinthians 6:19 teaches that a believer's body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within, and that we do not belong to ourselves — we were bought by God at the price of Christ. Paul's original point is that sexual purity matters precisely because our bodies are sacred, Spirit-indwelt, and God's possession.
The context: a specific problem in Corinth
Corinth was a port city known for sexual immorality, and some believers argued that what they did with their bodies did not matter spiritually. In 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 Paul confronts this directly, addressing men visiting prostitutes. Against the idea that the body is unimportant, Paul insists the body belongs to the Lord and will be raised (6:13-14). Verse 19 is his climactic reason: your body houses God's Spirit. The very next verse draws the conclusion — "therefore glorify God in your body."
What it means, phrase by phrase
The World English Bible reads: "Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,"
- "Don't you know" — Paul expects them to already grasp this; he is reminding, not introducing.
- "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit" — Under the old covenant, God dwelt in the Jerusalem temple. Now, through the gospel, God's Spirit dwells in believers themselves. The body is holy ground.
- "Who is in you, whom you have from God" — The Spirit is God's gift, evidence that we belong to Him.
- "You are not your own" — The decisive phrase. Autonomy — "my body, my choice, my rules" — is exactly what Paul denies. Verse 20 completes the thought: "you were bought with a price," namely Christ's death.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 6:20 — "you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body."
- 1 Corinthians 3:16 — the church collectively is God's temple.
- Romans 12:1 — present your bodies as a living sacrifice.
- John 14:17 — the Spirit "lives with you and will be in you."
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 — redeemed "with precious blood... of Christ."
How to apply it today
While Paul's immediate application is sexual purity, the principle reaches further. If God's Spirit lives in you and you belong to Him, then your body is not merely yours to do with as you please — it is a place of worship. This dignifies the body (it is a temple, not a prison) while also calling for reverence in how we treat it. It transforms holiness from a list of rules into a response of gratitude: because you were bought at great cost, you honor God with the very body He indwells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1 Corinthians 6:19 mainly about health or diet? Its primary context is sexual purity, not eating or exercise. Paul is arguing that what we do with our bodies sexually has spiritual weight because the body is the Spirit's temple. The principle can inform how we steward our health, but that is an application, not Paul's original point.
What does "you are not your own" mean? It means believers belong to God, not to themselves. Verse 20 explains why: "you were bought with a price" — Christ's death purchased us. This challenges the modern assumption of total self-ownership and grounds Christian ethics in belonging to God as our loving Redeemer.
How is my body a "temple" of the Holy Spirit? In the Old Testament, God's presence dwelt in the tabernacle and temple. Through the gospel, God now makes His home in His people by the Holy Spirit. So each believer becomes a dwelling place of God — which is why Paul urges us to treat our bodies with holiness and honor.