Topical Encyclopedia
The phrase "body is a temple" is derived from the Apostle Paul's teachings in the New Testament, specifically in his letters to the Corinthians. This concept emphasizes the sanctity and sacredness of the human body, urging believers to treat their bodies with respect and honor as they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Biblical References:1.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 : "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." In this passage, Paul addresses the Corinthian church, highlighting the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer. The context of this exhortation is a call to flee from sexual immorality, underscoring the importance of purity and holiness in one's physical life.
2.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 : "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." Here, Paul speaks to the collective body of believers, the church, as the temple of God. The emphasis is on the communal aspect of the church as a dwelling place for the Spirit, with a stern warning against actions that would harm or defile this sacred community.
Theological Implications:The concept of the body as a temple carries profound theological implications. It reflects the belief that the human body is not merely a physical entity but a vessel for divine presence. This understanding elevates the body to a status of sacredness, demanding a lifestyle that honors God through physical actions and choices.
Moral and Ethical Considerations:From a moral and ethical standpoint, viewing the body as a temple encourages believers to engage in behaviors that reflect their faith and commitment to God. This includes maintaining physical health, practicing sexual purity, and avoiding substances or activities that could harm the body. The notion of the body as a temple serves as a guiding principle for personal conduct, promoting a holistic approach to spirituality that encompasses both the physical and spiritual dimensions of life.
Historical Context:In the Greco-Roman world, temples were revered as places of worship and divine presence. By using the metaphor of the body as a temple, Paul effectively communicated to his audience the gravity and reverence with which they should regard their own bodies. This metaphor would have resonated deeply with the Corinthians, who were familiar with the concept of temples as sacred spaces.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to apply this teaching by living in a manner that reflects the holiness and sanctity of their bodies. This includes making choices that honor God, such as engaging in regular worship, prayer, and service, as well as caring for one's physical health through proper nutrition, exercise, and rest. The understanding that the body is a temple serves as a constant reminder of the believer's identity in Christ and the responsibility to live a life that glorifies God in all aspects.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 3:3-5Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
Topicalbible.org1 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 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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Leviticus 19:28
You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD.
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1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication:
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Greek
4638. skenoma -- a tent... From skenoo; an encampment, ie (figuratively) the
Temple (as God's residence), the
body (as a tenement for the soul) -- tabernacle. see GREEK skenoo.
...Library
November the Fifth theTemple of theBody
... NOVEMBER The Fifth THETEMPLE OF THEBODY. ROMANS xii.1-9. The Lord wants
mybody. He needs its members as ministers of righteousness....
The Holy Spirit in the Glorified Christ.
... Paul writes to the Corinthians: "Know ye not that yourbody is thetemple of the
Holy Ghost, which is in you?" If the apostle calls our bodies temples of the...
TheTemple which Christ Says He Will Raise up is the Church. How...
... Now, both of these two things, thetemple and thebody of Jesus, appear to me, in
one interpretation at least, to be types of the Church, and to signify that...
TheTemple Spoken of by Christ is the Church. Application to the...
... "But He spake of thetemple of Hisbody. [5116] When, therefore, He was
raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said...
The Holy Spirit and the Church. The Church is theTemple of God.
... Now He has atemple, of which the apostle says: "Know ye not that yourbody is the
temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God?" [1188] Of...
The Number Six is Also Commended in the Building up of theBody of...
... For "He spake this of thetemple of Hisbody," [485] as is declared by the most
clear and solid testimony of the Gospel; where He said, "For as Jonas was three...
God Will Bestow Salvation Upon the Whole Nature of Man, Consisting...
... God destroy: for thetemple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are." [4479] Here
he manifestly declares thebody to be thetemple in which the Spirit dwells....
The Cleansing of theTemple.
... Unbelief would do its work in destroying thetemple of hisbody, and its argument
would be overthrown by his resurrection from the dead....
Paul Writes to his Friends in Corinth
...body. Do you not know that yourbody is thetemple of the Holy Spirit
that is within you, which you have received from God? You...
Further Spiritualizing of Solomon'sTemple-Building.
... What has been said may suffice to let us understand how "He spake about thetemple
of Hisbody.". Footnotes: [5128] 1 Kings 7:13. [5129] Colossians 1:15....
Resources
What does the Bible say about body piercings? | GotQuestions.orgHow is the church the Body of Christ? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about an out of body experience / astral projection? | GotQuestions.orgBody: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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