¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?^{[a](A) 17} If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we^[a] are the temple of the living God, as God said,

¹⁹ So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,^{(A) 20} built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone;^{[a](B) 21} in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord,^{(C) 22} in whom you also are built together spiritually^[b] into a dwelling place for God.

¹⁵ if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.^(A)

⁶ Christ, however, was faithful over God’s^[a] house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm^[b] the boldness and the pride inspired by hope.^(A)

⁵ like living stones let yourselves be built^[a] into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^(A)