An Important Note To Students And Teachers
The temple, as a geographical place, served an important role in the life of the nation of Israel. The temple, as a people, served an important role in the life of the church in the New Testament. An enormous transition took place in Israels concept of temple and the churchs concept of temple. In both the nation of Israel and in the church, one understanding was held in common: that which belongs to God as His earthly habitation must be holy.
The world of the New Testament was a world of temples. Both the idolater and the Israelite understood the concept of temple. Both understood a temple belonged to the god the temple honored. Both understood that inappropriate human acts in the temple offended the god and placed the offender (offenders) in the dire jeopardy of enduring serious consequences. To humanly violate a temple was an offence against the god that temple existed to honor.
To become a Christian is to become a temple to God. As temple, Christians are to be holy. They are to understand they house Gods Spirit. To behave in a fashion that dishonors the temple dishonors God. Because Christians collectively as a congregation and individually exist to serve as Gods temple, they must assume the responsibilities of existing as Gods temple. Their lives are to reflect Gods presence. To behave in ways that dishonor the temple misrepresents God whose presence lives in them.
While that understanding and illustration may not be powerful to most in todays American society, it communicated powerfully to those in the first-century church. Most of those Christian converts came out of idolatry, Judaism, or were proselytes. The few others lived in a world of temples. The temple culture and behavior was commonly understood.
This study includes:
- A basic understanding of the Jewish tabernacle
- Davids desire to give God a temple
- Solomons building of the temple
- The role of the temple in Jewish society
- The transition from geographical place to a people
- The Christian emphasis on Christians being Gods temple
About the mid-point of the study, the study notes a basic mistake regarding Gods temple that the nation of Judah made. They felt secure because they placed their confidence in the gift their forefathers gave God instead of trusting the God the gift was to honor.
The study ends with a stress on Christian responsibility. All are encouraged to study with a mind open to the message of the Bible regarding temple.
