Dwelling Place of God
The dwelling place of God refers to the way God makes His presence known among His people. In Scripture this is seen especially in the tabernacle and temple, and ultimately in Christ, the church, and the new creation.
At a Glance
The dwelling place of God refers to the way God makes His presence known among His people. In Scripture this is seen especially in the tabernacle and temple, and ultimately in Christ, the church, and the new creation.
Description
The dwelling place of God is a theological term that gathers a major biblical theme: the holy God chooses to dwell among His people without being limited by creation. In the Old Testament, God uniquely manifested His presence in the tabernacle and then the temple, which served as covenantal signs of His nearness, holiness, and rule. At the same time, Scripture makes clear that heaven and earth cannot contain Him. In the New Testament, this theme reaches a higher fulfillment in Jesus Christ, in whom God is present in a unique and definitive way, and in the church, which is called God's temple by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Believers also are individually described as temples of the Spirit. The theme finds its consummation in the new creation, where God's dwelling with His people is openly and permanently realized. This entry is best handled as a biblical-theological theme rather than as a claim that God is confined to one location.