Topical Bible: Church: Temple of God

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The concept of the Church as the "Temple of God" is a profound theological theme found throughout the New Testament. This imagery underscores the Church's role as the dwelling place of God's presence on earth, a continuation and fulfillment of the Old Testament temple's significance.

Biblical Foundation

The Apostle Paul articulates the idea of the Church as the Temple of God in several of his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 , Paul writes, "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple." Here, Paul emphasizes the collective identity of believers as the temple, highlighting the sanctity and unity of the Church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Similarly, in Ephesians 2:19-22 , Paul expands on this imagery: "Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit." This passage underscores the Church's foundation in Christ and the apostles, with Jesus as the cornerstone, and the ongoing construction of the Church as a spiritual edifice.

Old Testament Background

The concept of the temple as God's dwelling place has its roots in the Old Testament. The tabernacle, and later the temple in Jerusalem, served as the physical location where God's presence was manifest among His people. Exodus 25:8 states, "Then have them make a sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them." This desire for God to dwell among His people is fulfilled in the New Testament through the Church, which is not confined to a physical structure but is a spiritual community.

Theological Implications

The Church as the Temple of God carries significant theological implications. It affirms the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the community of believers, making the Church a sacred space. This indwelling calls for holiness and unity among believers, as they collectively embody the presence of God on earth. The Church, therefore, is not merely an institution or organization but a living organism, a spiritual house where God resides.

Furthermore, the imagery of the Church as the Temple of God emphasizes the continuity between the Old and New Covenants. While the physical temple in Jerusalem was central to Jewish worship, the New Testament reveals that God's presence is now manifest in the global body of believers, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.

Practical Considerations

Understanding the Church as the Temple of God has practical implications for Christian living. Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of their identity as God's temple, pursuing holiness and unity. This understanding also fosters a sense of reverence and responsibility within the Church community, as members recognize their role in manifesting God's presence to the world.

In summary, the Church as the Temple of God is a rich biblical metaphor that encapsulates the presence, holiness, and unity of the body of Christ. It serves as a reminder of the Church's divine calling and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within the community of believers.

Nave's Topical Index

1 Corinthians 3:16,17
Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Holy Spirit and the Church. The Church is the Temple of God.
... Chapter 56."The Holy Spirit and the Church. The Church is the Temple
of God. And now, having spoken of Jesus Christ, the only ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 56 the holy spirit and.htm

Temples of God
... institutions. And so, if the Church as a whole is a Temple, it is only because
all its members are temples of God. Therefore, without ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/temples of god.htm

The Temple Spoken of by Christ is the Church. Application to the ...
... who was the image and glory of God, the first-born of every creature, could rightly
be called, in respect of His body or the Church, the temple containing the ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/23 the temple spoken of.htm

The Promises Addressed to Jerusalem in the Prophets Refer to the ...
... I have said with a view to our obtaining a cursory view at least of the matters
pertaining to the temple, and the house of God, and the Church and Jerusalem ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of john/26 the promises addressed to.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... [541] By placing his seat in the temple of God, it is intimated that his kingdom
would not be such as to destroy the name either of Christ or of his Church. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

Nature of Church History.
... The church militant must, from its very nature, be at perpetual warfare with the ...
among the apostles, so "the man of sin" sits in the temple of God; and as ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 1 nature of church.htm

The Doctrine of the Church i. Definition; Distinctions.
... IV. FIGURES UNDER WHICH THE CHURCH IS PRESENTED. 1. THE BODY OF CHRIST. 2. THE TEMPLE
OF GOD. 3. THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. V. THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH. ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the church.htm

The Temple which Christ Says He Will Raise up is the Church. How ...
... who, after Jesus has driven out those who make God's house a ... Now, both of these two
things, the temple and the body ... at least, to be types of the Church, and to ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/20 the temple which christ.htm

It Follows after Commendation of the Trinity, "The Holy Church. .. ...
... 14. It follows after commendation of the Trinity, "The Holy Church." God
is pointed out, and His temple. "For the temple of God ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on the creeds/section 14 it follows after.htm

Final Settlement of the Church by St. John
... To St. Peter, one of the "pillars" of the Church, it had been given to begin the
great work of laying the foundation of the Mystical Temple of God; to St. ...
/.../a key to the knowledge of church history/chapter iv final settlement of.htm