Topical Bible: Temple of the Holy Spirit

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "Temple of the Holy Spirit" is a significant theological concept found within the New Testament, primarily in the writings of the Apostle Paul. It refers to the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within believers, both individually and collectively as the body of Christ. This concept underscores the sanctity and divine purpose of the believer's body and the church as a whole.

Biblical Foundation

The primary scriptural basis for the concept of the Temple of the Holy Spirit is found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 , Paul writes, "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; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." Here, Paul emphasizes the personal responsibility of believers to honor God with their bodies, recognizing them as sacred spaces indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

Additionally, in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 , Paul addresses the collective aspect of this concept: "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." This passage highlights the communal nature of the church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, stressing the importance of unity and holiness within the body of believers.

Theological Implications

The idea of the Temple of the Holy Spirit carries profound theological implications. It signifies the intimate relationship between God and believers, made possible through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling is a mark of the New Covenant, where the presence of God is no longer confined to a physical temple but resides within the hearts of His people.

The concept also calls for a life of holiness and moral integrity. Since believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, they are called to live in a manner that reflects the holiness of God. This includes abstaining from sexual immorality, as emphasized in the context of 1 Corinthians 6, and living in a way that honors God in all aspects of life.

Practical Application

Understanding the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit has practical implications for Christian living. It encourages believers to maintain purity, both physically and spiritually, recognizing that their actions and choices reflect their relationship with God. This understanding fosters a sense of accountability and reverence for the divine presence within.

Moreover, the communal aspect of being God's temple calls for unity and love within the church. Believers are urged to build one another up, avoiding divisions and strife, as they collectively represent the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. This unity is a testament to the world of God's transformative power and love.

Historical Context

In the historical context of the early church, the concept of the Temple of the Holy Spirit would have been particularly striking. The Jewish temple in Jerusalem was the center of worship and the symbol of God's presence among His people. With the coming of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the locus of divine presence shifted from a physical building to the community of believers. This shift marked a new era in God's redemptive plan, where His presence is accessible to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The Temple of the Holy Spirit is a profound biblical concept that emphasizes the sanctity of the believer's body and the church as the dwelling place of God. It calls for a life of holiness, unity, and love, reflecting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit within. Through this indwelling, believers are empowered to live out their faith, glorifying God in all they do.

Topical Bible Verses

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
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1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
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1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
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1 Corinthians 3:16
Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
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2 Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
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Revelation 11:1-19
And there was given me a reed like to a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
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Greek

2418. hierourgeo -- to perform sacred rites
... 2418 (from 2411 , "Temple" and 2041 , "work") -- properly, doing , like offering ...
of God, so that my may become acceptable, sanctified (1722 ) the Holy Spirit.". ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2418.htm - 7k

Library

The Holy Spirit and the Church. The Church is the Temple of God.
... of God?" [1190] and adds, as proof of this, "and that the Spirit of God dwelleth
in you." [1191] God, then, dwells in His temple: not the Holy Spirit only, but ...
/.../augustine/the enchiridion/chapter 56 the holy spirit and.htm

God the Holy Spirit the Love which Dwells in the Heart.
... Even the body is called the temple of the Holy Spirit; and tho at death He may leave
it at least in part, to bring it again in greater glory in the resurrection ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xx god the holy spirit.htm

The Holy Spirit in the Glorified Christ.
... but to that of the Holy Spirit in the human nature of Jesus. Wherefore St. Paul
writes to the Corinthians: "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxiii the holy spirit in.htm

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament Other than in the Old.
... And only when in Christ the perfect man was given, who could be the temple of the
Holy Spirit body and soul, did the inflowing and outpouring of the Holy ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxv the holy spirit in.htm

The Love of the Holy Spirit in Us.
... so to influence and energize the impulses of the feeble will that it feels the effect,
is inclined, and finally consents to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxi the love of the.htm

The Holy Spirit of Promise
... It is the will of the Father that you receive the Holy Spirit to possess your
being"the consecrated temple"and make your life from this moment a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/byers/sanctification/chapter iv the holy spirit.htm

That the Glory and Honour of Christ is not to be Ascribed to the ...
... that the Spirit made Him to be feared by the devils, and that His flesh became the
temple of the Holy Ghost, and that He was taken up by the Spirit into heaven ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xvii that the glory.htm

The Holy Spirit.
... As Christ is a manifestation of the Father, so the Holy Spirit is the presence in
the heart of the believer, the temple of God, of the Father and the Son (14:23 ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the holy spirit.htm

The Presentation in the Temple.
... revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had
seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/the presentation in the temple.htm

Joy in the Holy Ghost.
... and the Holy Spirit is given to bring you in, and the Holy Spirit will fill ... unutterable
joy of knowing that He is sanctifying and keeping the temple for Christ ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/the masters indwelling/x joy in the holy.htm