Topical Encyclopedia In biblical literature, the human body is often metaphorically referred to as a "house." This metaphor underscores the transient and temporary nature of the physical body in contrast to the eternal soul or spirit. The concept of the body as a house is rooted in the understanding that the body serves as a dwelling place for the spirit during one's earthly life.One of the most direct references to the body as a house is found in 2 Corinthians 5:1, where the Apostle Paul writes, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands" . Here, Paul contrasts the temporary nature of the physical body ("earthly tent") with the eternal nature of the heavenly dwelling, emphasizing the hope of resurrection and eternal life. The metaphor of the body as a house is also evident in the Old Testament. In Ecclesiastes 12:3-5, the aging process is poetically described using imagery of a house in decline: "On the day the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few, and those watching through windows see dimly" . This passage reflects the frailty and eventual decay of the physical body, likening it to a house that is slowly falling into disrepair. In the New Testament, the concept of the body as a house is further developed in the context of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul reminds believers, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own" . Here, the body is not only a house but a sacred temple, highlighting the sanctity and divine purpose of the physical form as a vessel for God's presence. The metaphor extends to the communal body of believers, the Church, which is described as a spiritual house. In 1 Peter 2:5, believers are called "living stones" being built into a "spiritual house" to be a holy priesthood . This imagery reinforces the idea that individual bodies, as houses of the spirit, collectively form the larger house of God, the Church. Throughout Scripture, the metaphor of the body as a house serves to remind believers of the temporary nature of earthly life and the promise of eternal life. It calls for a recognition of the body as a vessel for the divine, urging believers to honor God with their bodies and to live in anticipation of the eternal dwelling prepared by God. Nave's Topical Index 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Nave's Topical Index Library Does the Body Cause the Soul to Sin? The Temple Spoken of by Christ is the Church. Application to the ... You See How He Represents These Opinions as Things which are Held ... Another Fragment. St. Hippolytus on Prov. Ix. 1, "Wisdom Hath ... Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry. The Temple which Christ Says He Will Raise up is the Church. How ... Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus. Nor Let this Promise Seem to You Contrary to the Natural Structure ... Version ii. How a Little Boy, Dying in the Same Monastery, Called Upon a ... Resources Does Jesus have a physical body in heaven? | GotQuestions.orgHow will our resurrection body be different from our current body? | GotQuestions.org What does it mean to be absent from the body? | GotQuestions.org Body: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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