Tag: naos

Ephesians 2:21 – Temple Building

Posted on by Will

in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Truth to Learn

Every Christian is part of the temple of God.

 

Behind the Words

The words “the whole” are translated from a form of pas, which can mean “all” or “every.” So this could be translated as “all the building” or “the whole building.”

“Building” is from the Greek word oikodomē, which is very similar to the word translated “having been built on” in the previous verse. This word can refer either to “the act of building” or to “the building” itself.

The verb sunarmologeō is translated here as “being fitted together.” This word is made up of sun, meaning “together,” harmos “to join things together,” and legō, which means “to lay forth” or “to say a word.” Putting these all together, we find that sunarmologeō means “to lay things closely joined together,” as one would do with stones or bricks in building a structure. The word is expressed here as a present participle, indicating that it is action that is continually taking place.

The word “grows” is from auxanō, which means “to grow” or “to increase.” This word is expressed in the present tense, indicative mood, which implies current continuous action.

“Temple” is translated from naos. This is derived from the verb naiō, meaning “to dwell.” Naos refers to “a shrine” or “a temple” where a deity dwells. There is another word in Greek, often translated “temple.” It is hieron, which refers to the entire temple area or temple grounds. Naos, however, refers specifically to the central building in the temple area.

 

Meaning Explained

In the Greek text there is no definite article associated with the word oikodomē, which introduces some ambiguity as to whether Paul is talking about every believer being a holy temple, or the whole church being a single, holy temple. However, since both “building” and “temple” are singular Greek words and the following verse says that “you [plural] are being built together for a dwelling place [singular] for God,” there is strong evidence that Paul is referring to the entire church as the building.

Assuming that this is, in fact, what Paul was expressing, we are told here that the church, which is composed of every believer from the beginning of time, is continually being built by God. Each member of the church has a place in the building and is put in place joined closely together with those around him or her. Later in this letter (Ephesians 4:12) Paul will refer to the church as “the body of Christ.” Also. in his first letter to the Corinthians, he refers to the church as “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Since Paul uses both of these metaphors to refer to the church universal, we can see that the church, whether a living body or a building, is continually being built. And, we see from this verse, that the church is the central temple (dwelling place) of God, Himself. We are all part of the body, and we are all part of the holy temple where God lives.

 

Application

Whether we consider the church to be the temple of God or the body of Christ, we each have a part in it. Each and every Christian has an important function to perform. Are you performing your function? Are you being used by God as part of the church? If not, you’re not fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Corinthians 3:16 – We Are God’s Temple

Posted on by Will

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Truth to Learn

The body of Christ (the church) is the Temple of God.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “know” is eidō, which means “to see.” However, it is often used metaphorically to mean “to perceive,” that is “to know.” It is written here as s second person, plural verb. Therefore it means “you (plural) know.”

Eimi is the verb translated “you are.” It is written as a second person plural verb meaning “you (plural) are.”

“Temple” is from naos, which literally means “a dwelling place.” There is another word translated “temple.” It is hieron, which refers to the entire temple complex. Naos, however refers specifically to the central, most significant portion of the temple. In the Jewish temple, the naos was the building that housed the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). This is where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were located, and it was at the Mercy Seat where God was said to dwell.

The word translated “dwell” is oikeō, meaning “to reside” or “to dwell.” It is derived from the noun oikos, meaning “a house” or “a dwelling place.”

The final word in this verse, “you,” is from the Greek second person, plural pronoun meaning “you (plural).”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one of the most frequently misapplied verses in the Bible. Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, or don’t engage in immoral physical activities because when you do you are harming your body, which is the temple of God.” Most often, such people use today’s verse as the proof text. However, this verse does not say that our individual physical bodies are each a temple of God. Neither does this verse say that the Holy Spirit lives within our individual physical bodies. What it says is that the body of Christ (the local church or the church universal) is the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in the church (not the building, but the people). And – as if that doesn’t ruffle enough feathers, did you know that nowhere in the entire Bible does it say that the Holy Spirit indwells you (singular).

Consider the following verses: 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; and Galatians 4:6. In every one of these passages, the English words “you” and “your” are translated from the second person plural pronoun in Greek (you, plural). Also, in 2 Timothy 1:14, and James 4:5, we are told that the Spirit dwells in “us.”

This may shed some new light on Jesus’ comment:

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

We are not saying that Christianity is not an individual, personal relationship with God, for that is the crux of the Christian walk. What today’s verse does teach us is the importance of being part of a local church and working together to build the body of Christ, the Temple of God!

Application

Are you just a Sunday morning Christian, or does your life revolve around serving God and building up God’s Temple?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 2:21 – Temple Building

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:21  – Temple Building

in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

Truth to Learn

Every Christian is part of the temple of God.

Behind the Words

The words “the whole” are translated from a form of pas, which can mean “all” or “every.” Since there is no definite article included with the word for “building” a literal translation would be either “all building” or “every building.”

“Building” is from the Greek word oikodomē, which is very similar to the word translated “having been built on” in the previous verse. This word can refer either to “the act of building” or to “the building” itself.

The verb sunarmologeō is translated here as “being fitted together.” This word is made up of sun, meaning “together,” harmos “to join things together,” and legō, which means “to lay forth” or “to say a word.” Putting these all together, we find that sunarmologeō means “to lay things closely joined together,” as one would do with stones or bricks in building a structure. The word is expressed here as a present participle, indicating that it is action that is continually taking place.

The word “grows” is from auxanō, which means “to grow” or “to increase.” This word is expressed in the present tense, indicative mood, which implies current continuous action.

“Temple” is translated from naos. This is derived from the verb naiō, meaning “to dwell.” Naos refers to “a shrine” or “a temple” where a deity dwells.

Meaning Explained

As we pointed out in Behind the Words, there is no definite article associated with the word oikodomē, which introduces some ambiguity as to whether Paul is talking about every believer being a holy temple, or the whole church being a single, holy temple. However, since both “building” and “temple” are singular Greek words and the following verse says that “you [plural] are being built together for a dwelling place [singular] for God,” there is strong evidence that Paul is referring to the entire church as the building.

Assuming that this is, in fact, what Paul was expressing, we are told here that the church, which is composed of every believer from the beginning of time, is continually being built by God. Each member of the church has a place in the building and is put in place joined closely together with those around him or her. Later in this letter (Ephesians 4:12) Paul will refer to the church as “the body of Christ.” Also. in his first letter to the Corinthians, he also refers to the church as “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Since Paul uses both of these metaphors to refer to the church universal, we can see that the church, whether a living body or a building, is continually being built. And, we see from this verse, that the church is the temple (dwelling place) of God, Himself. We are all part of the body, and we are all part of the holy temple where God lives.

Application

Whether we consider the church to be the temple of God or the body of Christ, we each have a part in it. Each and every Christian has an important function to perform. Are you performing your function? Are you being used by God as part of the church? If not, you’re not fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: