The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit, (The Spirit of Christ) in the Individual Christian
The New Testament reference 1Cor. 3:16 states (AV), "Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you". Dr. Bullinger refers to the word "in", as being corrected to "among". This is on page 1700 of the Companion Bible. He refers to the technical analysis of the Greek word "en" "in" in Appx. 104 viii 2, (which states that with "plural or collective nouns the translation is among"). Also he refers to Eph. 2:22 which states, "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit". This last verse in context regards the building of Christ's Body of individuals, and is referred to metaphorically as the "holy Temple in the Lord" (verse 21). Dr. Bullinger uses the argument that the Holy Spirit dwells in the shrine formed by the collective Body of believers. It could be interpreted that Dr. Bullinger is saying in his analysis that only when there are more than the individual gathered together does the Holy Spirit indwell. However, the clarity of Appx.104 viii 2, shows that the collective noun changes the Greek "en" from "in" to "among". It is the strong opinion of the writers that he is here referring to the "Body" plural as opposed to the "body" singular, and not intending to give the meaning that the Holy Spirit i.e. the Christ Spirit does not indwell the individual Christian.
Some would argue that the reference in Matt. 18:20, "when 2 or 3 are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them", that the Christ Spirit is not present unless a number of people are in attendance. This in the writers view is definitely mistaken and spurious, as different subjects are being dealt with in these verses. Matt. 18:20 is at a specific place and time when Christ is on His mission to the Jews, still in His flesh, and prior to His crucifixion and resurrection and Acts 28:28; when the emphasis moved to the Gentiles, and the Risen Christ is at the Right Hand of the Father. The 1Cor. 3:16 reference is Paul's exhortation to the young Church (group) re. the "planting", "watering", and the growth given by Christ alone.
The Authorised version, the Revised Standard, the Interlinear, Darby, and Tindale, all translate the word "en" to "in". However, Moffatt also refers to the collective group (the Church of His Body). The words from both Lamsa and Victor Alexander, using the Pshitta (Old Syriac): 1Cor. 3:16; "Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you"?
Conclusive Scripture evidence that the Holy Spirit (The Christ Spirit) indwells the individual who is converted to Christ is given in Rom. 8:9 & 11, upon which no negative spiritual argument can prevail against. I.e., Rom. 8:9 "But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you". The spirit referred to, is the “new nature”, instilled by the Christ Spirit, Rom. 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit That dwelleth in you". See: The Christ Spirit.
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