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in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Every Christian has a specific function within the temple of God.<\/p>\n The word \u201cyou<\/span>\u201d is translated from humeis<\/em><\/span>, which is a second person plural pronoun (you-plural). This is one area where the antiquated language of the original King James Version is helpful. The words thee, thou, thy, and thine are second person singular<\/em> pronouns, whereas you and your are second person plural<\/em> pronouns.<\/p>\n The words \u201care being built together<\/span>\u201d are from the Greek verb sunoikodome\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether,\u201d oikos<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201ca dwelling place\u201d or \u201ca house,\u201d and dem\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto build.\u201d Therefore, sunoikodome\u014d<\/em><\/span>, literally means \u201cto build a dwelling place together.\u201d It is expressed here in the present tense (current action) and the passive voice (action being done to the subject). It is also expressed as a plural verb.<\/p>\n \u201cA dwelling place<\/span>\u201d is from katoik\u0113t\u0113rion<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of kata<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cdown\u201d but possibly used as an intensifier and oik\u0113t\u0113rion<\/em><\/span> (a dwelling place). It refers to \u201ca permanent dwelling place.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time this letter was written most houses were typically built with bricks. Temples, however, were usually built out of blocks of stone. The stones in the temple were all properly placed so as to form a complete structure to be a habitation for the Deity that is worshipped there. Paul is telling us that we are being built along with others as a dwelling place for God.<\/p>\n There is some ambiguity introduced here, however, as to whom Paul was specifically referring. The fact that he uses the second person plural pronoun (you-plural) and a plural verb means that he is referring to a group of people who are being built together. In this verse He is not saying that each individual believer is being built together with others. So, he can either mean that you (members of the church at Ephesus, and by extension all believers) are being built together, or he means that you (Gentiles) are being built together. Based on the context of verses nineteen through this verse, it is most likely that he is talking about Gentiles.<\/p>\n What is clear is that Paul is talking about a temple that is being built. In the past few verses Paul has been talking about the construction of a building and in verse twenty-one he made it clear that he is talking about a temple. You may recall from our discussion of the word translated \u201ctemple\u201d that it refers to the dwelling place of a deity. In the current verse, Paul makes it clear that he is talking about a temple which is the dwelling place of God. This temple consists of all believers since the beginning of time.<\/p>\n The living temple of God, which Paul refers to here, is an intricately designed and constructed building. We are each building blocks with specific talents and gifts to perform the function (or functions) that God has intended for us. If we are not allowing God to utilize those specific talents and gifts, then the temple is not as God designed it. Do you know what part of the temple you are and are you performing that function?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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