The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (New Studies in Biblical Theology, vol. 17 | NSBT)

by G. K. Beale

Publishers:

IVP; Apollos

, 2004

Overview

G.K. Beale argues that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the end-time reality that God’s presence, formerly limited to the Holy of Holies, would be extended throughout the cosmos. Hence, John’s vision in Revelation 21 is best understood as picturing the new heavens and earth as the eschatological temple. His stimulating exposition traces the theme of the tabernacle and temple across the Bible’s storyline, illuminating many texts and closely-related themes along the way. He shows how the significance and symbolism of the temple can be better understood in the context of ancient Near Eastern assumptions. He offers new insights into the meaning of the temple in both Old and New Testaments.

Key Features

• Contains scholarly and accessible volumes written by well-respected Biblical scholars
• Includes notes that interact with the best of recent research and significant literature
• Engages the immense challenges facing today’s church
• Offers new insights and challenges established positions
• Encourages Christians to better understand their Bibles through biblical theology

Contents

• Cosmic Symbolism of Temples in the Old Testament
• The Expanding Purpose of Temples in the Old Testament
• The Expanding End-Time Purpose of Temples in the Old Testament
• The 'Already and not yet' Fulfilment of the End-Time Temple in Christ and His People: The Gospels
• The Inauguration of a New Temple in the Book of Acts
• The Inauguration of a New Temple in the Epistles of Paul
• The Temple in 2 Thessalonians 2
• The Inauguration of a New Temple in Hebrews
• The World-Encompassing Temple in Revelation
• The Temple in Ezekiel 40–48 and Its Relationship to the New Testament
• Theological Conclusions: The Physical Temple as a Foreshadowing of God's and Christ's Presence as the True Temple

Top Highlights

“Our thesis is that Israel’s temple was composed of three main parts, each of which symbolized a major part of the cosmos: (1) the outer court represented the habitable world where humanity dwelt; (2) the holy place was emblematic of the visible heavens and its light sources; (3) the holy of holies symbolized the invisible dimension of the cosmos, where God and his heavenly hosts dwelt.” (Pages 32–33)

“My thesis is that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the cosmic eschatological reality that God’s tabernacling presence, formerly limited to the holy of holies, was to be extended throughout the whole earth. Against this background, the Revelation 21 vision is best understood as picturing the final end-time temple that will fill the entire cosmos. If correct, the thesis provides not only the answer to the above problem in chapter 21, but also gives crucial insight into an understanding of the biblical theology of the temple in both testaments.” (Pages 25–26)

“Consequently, the new creation and Jerusalem are none other than God’s tabernacle. This tabernacle is the true temple of God’s special presence portrayed throughout chapter 21.” (Page 25)

“Israel’s temple was the place where the priest experienced God’s unique presence, and Eden was the place where Adam walked and talked with God. The same Hebrew verbal form (stem) mithallēk (hithpael) used for God’s ‘walking back and forth’ in the Garden (Gen. 3:8), also describes God’s presence in the tabernacle (Lev. 26:12; Deut. 23:14 [15]; 2 Sam. 7:6–7).” (Page 66)

Praise for the Print Edition

The importance of this book lies not only in the competent handling of its chosen theme but in three other things: its evocative unpacking of the theme of the temple and its relations to broader structures of thought, including the kingdom of God; its modeling of the way biblical theology is to be done; and its capacity to cause readers to perceive fresh and wonderful things in the Scriptures, and to bow in worship and gratitude.

—D.A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Beale has written a comprehensive (and to my mind, convincing) biblical theology, centering on the role of the temple both in Scripture and in the Ancient Near East.

—David Renwick, Lexington Theological Quarterly

I recommend this work for anyone wrestling with eschatological issues of fulfillment or handling temple texts that are dealt with in this book. As for me, I intend to have the book handy anytime I approach biblical theology as a guidebook in methodology.

—Tim Barker, Truth on Fire

Product Details

• Title: The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God
• Author: G. K. Beale
• Series: New Studies in Biblical Theology
• Volume: 17
• Publishers: IVP, Apollos
• Print Publication Date: 2004
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Pages: 458
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Temple of God; Bible › Theology
• ISBNs: 1844740226, 0830826181, 9781844740222, 9780830826186
• Resource ID: LLS:NSBT17
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:53:52Z

About G. K. Beale

G. K. Beale (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is Kenneth T. Wessner Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois, and coordinator of Wheaton's M.A. in Biblical Exegesis program. His books include The Book of Revelation (New International Greek Testament Commentary), 1-2 Thessalonians (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series), The Right Doctrine from the Wrong Texts? Essays on the Use of the Old Testament in the New, and The Temple and the Church's Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God.