In Front | Workbook: You, the Temple

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Grab your Workbook Journal!

[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]

While exegetes vary on the best way to interpret Ezekiel’s temple, there are clear parallels for Christian believers. Notice how Paul associates believers with the concept of a temple in 1 Corinthians:

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB

Scholars have noted that this statement of Paul’s refers to “you” in the plural sense, as a community. Paul is concerned about the church’s purity, something obviously important to Ezekiel. Picture the cherubim “raising their wings” and leaving a polluted dwelling place as a graphic image of God’s eventual response.

Augustine of Hippo (354–430):

You are yourself the temple of God. In your going out, in your coming in, as you abide in your house, as you rise up, in all you are, a temple. Take heed then what you do, take heed that you offend not the Indweller of the temple, lest He forsake you, and you fall into ruins.

Aphrahat the Persian Sage (280–345):

Therefore, my beloved, we also have received of the Spirit of Christ, and Christ dwells in us, as it is written that the Spirit said this through the mouth of the Prophet: “I will dwell in them and will walk in them.” (Leviticus 21:12) Therefore let us prepare our temples for the Spirit of Christ, and let us not grieve it that it may not depart from us.

Jerome (347–420):

On one side self-indulgence presses me hard; on another covetousness strives to make an inroad; my belly wishes to be a God to me, in place of Christ, and lust would fain drive away the Holy Spirit that dwells in me and defile His temple.

Origen of Alexandria (184–253):

Let any one who chooses learn how we are taught, that our bodies are the temple of God, and that if any one by lust or sin defiles the temple of God, he will himself be destroyed, as acting impiously towards the true temple.

Ignatius of Antioch (35–107):

Keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; avoid divisions; be the followers of Jesus Christ, even as He is of His Father … for where there is division and wrath, God does not dwell.

Sources:

Augustine, Sermon 32 on the New Testament, 13, “Sermons on the New Testament.” Catholic Encyclopedia: Miguel Hidalgo. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/160332.htm

Aphrahat, Demonstrations, 6.14, “Demonstration 6 (Of Monks).” Catholic Encyclopedia: Miguel Hidalgo. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/370106.htm

Jerome, Letter XIV, To the monk, Heliodorus, “Letters of St. Jerome.” Catholic Encyclopedia: Miguel Hidalgo. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3001014.htm

Origen, Against Celsus, Chapter 19, “Contra Celsum, Book VIII.” Catholic Encyclopedia: Miguel Hidalgo. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/04168.htm

Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Philadelphians, Chapters 7-8, “The Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians.” Catholic Encyclopedia: Miguel Hidalgo. Accessed May 03, 2018. http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0108.htm

Having read some comments from early church theologians, summarize the connection with Ezekiel they’re making.