“The Temple” | January 16, 2022

Ephesians 2:20-22


I.     “The Foundation”

Ephesians 2:16-19
Psalm 118:14-29;
Ephesians 2:19-20; Jer 12:16; 1Co 3:9-11; Rev 21:14
Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16
Matthew 16:13-19; Matt 1:17; 14:33; Jn 11:27
1Corinthians 2:10; 12:3; Jn 6:45;
Ac 1:16-26; Ps 118:22; Is 28:16
 
 

II.     “Living Stones”

Ephesians 2:21; Eph 4:15-16; 1Co 3:16-17
1Corinthians 3:5-11, 16-17; Col 2:6-7; Isaiah 28:16;
Revelation 21:14
1Peter 2:2-10; 1Co 3:9; Heb 3:4-6; Is 28:16
 

 III.     “The Temple of God”

Ephesians 2:22; 1Pe 2:5; Eph 3:17; 2Co 6:16; 1Ti 3:15
Hebrews 11:10
Revelation 21:2, 9-14
Revelation 21:22-27
Revelation 22:13-14

Greek Word Study:
Built (having been built): ‘epoikodomeo’: from ‘epi’ (up or upon) and ‘oikodomeo’ (to build); to build up or build upon; i.e. Fig. to rear up. To build upon, to erect a foundation. In NT, used only figuratively, spoken of the Christian Faith and Christian Life, both the whole church and its individual members as built upon the only foundation, Christ, and implying the constant internal development of the kingdom of God and the visible church, like a Holy Temple progressively and unceasingly built up from the foundation. (Eph2:20)
Apostle: ‘apostolos’: from ‘apostello’ (delegate); specially an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ([apostle] with miraculous powers): - [super-] apostle, messenger. N. from ‘apostello’, to send. Used as a substantive; one sent, apostle, ambassador. Spoken of the 12 Apostles of Christ, so of Paul, reckoned as “the apostle to the Gentiles” Also, in a wider sense, spoken of the helpers and companions of the 12. As aiding to gather the church.
Prophet: ‘prophetes’: foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet. N. from ‘pro’ (before or forth) and ‘phemi’ (to tell); a prophet, a foreteller of events, also an interpreter. Spoken specifically of persons who possessed the prophetic gift or charisma imparted by the Holy Spirit to the Early Church. Prophets were a class of instructors or preachers who were next in rank to Apostles and before the teachers. Like the Apostles, however, they did not remain in one place as the teachers did. They seemed to have differed from teachers, who spoke in a calm, connected, teaching style so as to instruct and enlighten their hearers; Prophets spoke from impulse of “sudden inspiration” by the Holy Spirit (as seen in 1Co 14:30)
Cornerstone: ‘akrogoniaios’: belonging to the extreme corner – corner foundation stone. From ‘akron’ (extreme, head) and ‘gonia’ (an angle): - corner (-stone) “For as the cornerstone holds together two walls so Christ joins together as Christians, into one body, dedicated to God those who were formerly Jews and Gentiles” (Eph 2:20) (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
Structure: ‘oikodome’: from ‘oikos’: (dwelling, house) and dumeo (to build) “to build a dwelling”. A building or edifice (fig.) of the Christian Church as the Temple of God (Eph 2:21)
Temple: ‘naos’:  from naio (to dwell); a fane, shrine, temple: - sanctuary, shrine, temple. N. from naio (n.f.) dwelling, temple, as the dwelling of a god (Diana); metaphorically, of persons in whom God or His Spirit is said to dwell: spoken of Christians (1Co 3:16-17, Eph 2:21)
Dwelling place: ‘katoiketerion’: to house permanently; to settle down in a fixed dwelling, to dwell permanently.