Church as temple
The New Testament teaches that the gathered people of God are God’s temple, because his Spirit dwells among them. This image emphasizes God’s holy presence in the church rather than a physical building.
At a Glance
The New Testament teaches that the gathered people of God are God’s temple, because his Spirit dwells among them. This image emphasizes God’s holy presence in the church rather than a physical building.
Description
The phrase “church as temple” summarizes a New Testament image in which God’s people, united to Christ, are described as the place where God dwells by his Spirit. Unlike the Old Testament temple, which was a physical sanctuary in Jerusalem, the church is presented as a spiritual house being built by God, with Christ as the cornerstone and believers as living stones. This does not deny the historical importance of the Old Testament temple, but shows its fulfillment in the new covenant community. The theme especially underscores God’s holy presence, the unity of believers, the call to purity, and the privilege of worship and fellowship in Christ. Care should be taken to distinguish texts about the church corporately as God’s temple from texts about individual believers as temples of the Holy Spirit, while recognizing that both themes are taught in Scripture.