Articles
Graffiti on the Temple Wall
Graffiti on the Temple Wall
The believers in Corinth were the church of God there. They were 'saints by calling'. They had been washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ (6:11). Paul adds to this list that 'you are the temple of God' (3:16-17, 2Cor. 6:16).
The most famous temple in Corinth was the one dedicated unto Aphrodite. David Padfield wrote: "Of equal fame in Corinth was the temple of Poseidon, ruler of the sea (on which Corinth's commercial life depended) and maker of earthquakes (a frequent danger in the area). Poseidon had a very large temple at a nearby village where the biennial Isthmian Games were held. Numerous other temples in Corinth include ones to Apollo, Hermes, Venus-Fortuna, Isis, and one dedicated to "All The Gods" (Pantheon). On the slopes of the Acrocorinth was the sanctuary of Demeter, which dates from the 6th and 7th centuries B.C."1
There were two major differences in these temples. This temple was the temple of the true and living God, the only God, the creator of heaven and earth. Second, this temple of the living God was a LIVING TEMPLE constructed out of living stones (cp. 1Pet. 2:4-5).
Deborah K. Dietsch said of these temples: "For the Greeks, temples were not only places to worship the gods but also impressive symbols of their society and culture."2 This temple of God was for the glory of God. It was to stand out in the immoral world of the Corinthians as shining light reflecting the holiness of God. This temple of God is holy.
The problem was that the saints were not living holy lives. Instead of bringing glory and honor to God they were dishonoring God by their behavior. They were destroying the temple of God. Bickering and fighting among themselves they were destroying the temple by dividing the people of God. Some openly lived immoral lives. Some continued to acknowledge the idols of the city (2Cor. 6:16). They were in effect painting graffiti on the walls of the temple of God!
How we conduct ourselves as the temple of God before the eyes of the world is important. Paul warns "If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him" (vs. 17). As you read through 1 Corinthians, notice the many ways the saints there were dishonoring God by disrespecting the church.
Hugh DeLong
1(http://www.padfield.com/2005/corinth.html).
2(http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/greek-architecture-doric-ionic-or-corinthian.html).
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