8 The Church Must be Pure

Many commentators narrowly define this section of Scripture to refer to taking care of one’s personal body. That actually is perhaps a secondary application of these verses for the Holy Spirit does dwell in us. Following the logic train of the last verses in this chapter the Church (body of believers) is in view here.
Now, a local church (you here is second person plural) might come to the point where its structure is so weak that it collapses entirely or exists in name only, that is, it is destroyed. The reasoning is if false teachers are allowed to destroy the fundamentals of the faith by spewing out false doctrines they become enemies of the cross and will themselves be destroyed. Paul did not want this to happen in Corinth (2 Cor. 11:3, 13). If it did, God Himself would pay the false minister back in kind. (this is an application of the Old Testament concept of Lex Talionis, the law of retaliation). So while we would throw the false teacher out of our midst, God Himself would provide a very stern in kind punishment for him.