God’s temple is holy,
set apart for his own use. He will not tolerate anyone who harms his temple. There are many Old Testament illustrations of this truth; think, for example, of what God did to Uzzah, when Uzzah handled the ark in an illegitimate manner (1 Samuel 6:6–7).
Paul is implicitly warning the Corinthians that they are guilty of damaging God’s temple, through their partisanship and man-centredness.
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.