God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth
Overview
—2014 Best Missions-Oriented Biblical Study, from Byron Borger, Hearts and Minds Bookstore
Just like we do today, the writers and chief actors of the Old Testament felt a deep longing for the presence of God. It is symbolized in the temple ruins, and before it the temple itself, and before that the ark of the covenant and the tabernacle that housed it, and before that the Garden of Eden.
In response to this longing, God shares his ultimate mission, in which his people play a part: the expansion of Eden, the temple of God's presence, to all peoples throughout the earth.
The temple has always been a source of rich scholarship and theological reflection, but what does it mean for the church's ongoing mission in the world? G. K. Beale and Mitchell Kim take temple theology off the bookshelf and bring it to our modern-day life, where the church is instructed and exhorted in its purpose. From Eden to the new Jerusalem, we are God's temple on the earth in our day, the firstfruits of the new creation. God has always desired to dwell among us; now the church must follow its missional call to extend the borders of God's kingdom and take his presence to the ends of the earth.
- Seeks to fuel the church to fulfill its mission in the world
- Hopes to build a bridge from the world of biblical theology to the needs of the church
- Shows how Eden, the temple, God's glorious presence, new creation and the church's mission are facets of the same reality
- Eden: The Temple Context of Genesis 1-2
- Expanding Eden: The Call of Genesis 1:28
- Eden Lost: Call to the Patriarchs
- Eden Remixed: The Earthly and Cosmic Tabernacle
- Eden Restored: The Call of Genesis 1:28 in the Prophets
- Eden Rebuilt: Jesus as the New Temple in the Gospels
- Eden Expanding: The Church as the New Temple
- Eden's Ministry: Serving as Priests in the New Temple
- Eden Completely Expanded: New Heavens and Earth as the New Temple
- Why Haven?t I Seen This Before? Hermeneutical Reflections
- Concluding Practical Reflections on Sacrifice and Conviction
Top Highlights
“The church as the dwelling place of God must expand until one day it fills the entire heaven and earth; the entire cosmos becomes the dwelling place of God. Mission does not begin with the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18–20, but mission is God’s heartbeat from Genesis 1 until the new heaven and earth become the dwelling place of the Lord God Almighty in Revelation 21–22. This ultimate picture of the whole earth filled with God’s presence fulfills God’s original intention from the sanctuary of Eden.” (source)
“In this section, we will connect the Great Commission to the son of man/Adam in Daniel 7 and the temple-building commission of 2 Chronicles 36:23. As a result, the Great Commission can be seen as a recommission of Genesis 1:28 by Jesus to his disciples.” (source)
“God has created us as icons of his powerful presence. Icons do not point to themselves, but icons usher in a far greater reality. Similarly, we represent God so that our presence ushers in the presence of the Almighty God wherever we go.” (source)
“Adam was created in the image of the triune God to indicate his presence and rule over the earth.5 As God’s image, Adam and Eve were to reign with God as kings and representatives of God.” (source)
“Since the river of life flows from God’s presence into the lands of nations, so our mission to the nations must flow from the life found in God’s presence. When the source of our commitment to mission is located only in the backwaters of our idealism, then we can burn out and become bitter. Many idealistically plunge headlong into a sacrificial commitment to the poor or unreached or hurting, compelled by brokenness over their plight, but the resources of that idealism run dry when tested by the challenges of costly obedience. However, when our resources run dry, we drink more fully and deeply from the abundance of life found in God’s presence.” (source)
God dwelling in the midst of his people: this staggering vision is the heart of God's covenantal purposes from Genesis to Revelation. God Dwells Among Us brings decades of scholarship on this topic to a wider audience. More than that, it shows how this major biblical theme is the engine of mission in the world today. This clear and compelling study is a real feast.
—Michael Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California
In Scripture, God dwells not only up above the world but also among us, with us and within us. Our hearts long to hear more of God?s presence, his promise to be with us. One important way for us to understand God?s presence in Scripture is through its teaching about the temple and of Jesus as the true temple. Greg Beale has developed this theme cogently in scholarly writings. In God Dwells Among Us he and Mitchell Kim have made these ideas accessible to working pastors. It is a valuable aid to preaching and an excellent antidote to the feeling of loneliness that afflicts many today. I recommend it highly.
—John Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary
This approach to biblical theology, soundly exegetical and powerfully persuasive, not only will help the pastor place every text of Scripture within the context of the entire canon, but also understand every text of Scripture in terms of the everlasting purposes of God.
—R. Albert Mohler Jr., Preaching, "The Year's Best Books for Preachers," March/April 2015
- Title: God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth
- Authors: G. K. Beale, Mitchell Kim
- Publisher: IVP
- Print Publication Date: 2014
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Pages: 213
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subjects: Bible › Theology; Presence of God; Temple of God
- ISBNs: 9780830880164, 9780830844142, 9780830855353, 9780830855360, 9781783591916, 083088016X, 0830844147, 0830855351, 083085536X, 1783591919
- Resource ID: LLS:9780830880164
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T03:23:22Z
Reviews
1 rating
Patrick
1/19/2022
This book brought so much joy and understanding to me. What this book does is bring an understanding of the Garden and the Temple at the beginning, middle, and end of history and ties it with the correct understanding of biblical typologies and allusions. This isn't "spiritualizing" the topic but the case presented lays out a clear understanding that these things tie together. I can't say enough about this book. As far as application, I found myself using what I learned from the theology to then have a better understanding of the greater role I have as a Christian in God's world. The theology presented isn't hard to understand but this was drinking from a fire hose for me where I had to stop and look up and think. This - THIS - is what I want from my theology books. I came to a greater understanding of who God is, who Jesus Christ is, the role of God in history is, and my role as a believer looking to the end times. This book needs to be read by Christians. Final Grade - A+