 |  |
It is evident upon reading Ephesians 3:1 that the apostle does not finish
the sentence. The verb is missing. Instead, he enters into a careful
explanation of the claim he made of being `the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you
Gentiles'. That being accomplished, he reverts to his original intention at
verse 14 and continues. This is indicated by the repetition of the words `for
this cause'. He then leads on to the prayer `that Christ may dwell (katoikeo)
in your hearts by faith' (Eph. 3:17). This association which the apostle makes
between the `dwelling place' (katoiketerion) of Ephesians 2:22 and the
`dwelling' (katoikeo) of Christ in the individual heart by faith, can be made
evident thus.
A
Eph. 2:22. The dwelling place.
The Temple.
B
Eph. 3:1.
for this cause
(The parenthesis)
B
Eph. 3:14. for this cause
A
Eph. 3:17. The dwelling.
Your hearts by faith.
Not only does the apostle stress the dispensational privilege of the
Gentile during this present time under the figure of the innermost shrine of
the temple, he is also concerned that the experimental side of this most
wonderful truth shall be the believer's desire. It is all too easy to think of
this calling as it embraces the whole, and to forget that it must of necessity
be concerned with every member. This same line of teaching is seen in
Ephesians 4. After having emphasized the unity of the spirit, he turns to the
individual, saying:
`But unto every one (better "unto each one" as in the R.V.) of us is
given grace' (Eph. 4:7).
The structure of Ephesians (see article Ephesians1) throws into
correspondence Ephesians 2:21,22 with Ephesians 4:16, where the words `fitly
framed together' and `fitly joined together' are translations of the Greek word
sunarmologoumene, thereby emphasizing the truth that the `Temple' of the
doctrinal portion is `The Body' of the practical portion, and by a strange
introversion, which however but enforces this relationship, the apostle speaks
of the temple `growing' (Eph. 2:21) as well as being built and of the body as
being `edified' or `built' as well as `growing'. Paul uses the word naos in
his epistles seven times, as follows:
The holy temple
1 Cor. 3:16
Ye are the temple of God.
1 Cor. 3:17
If any man defile the temple of
God.
Practical
1 Cor. 3:17
For the temple of God
is holy.
1 Cor. 6:19
Your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost.
Truth
2 Cor. 6:16
What agreement ... temple ... with
idols.
2 Cor. 6:16
The temple of the living God.
The holy temple
Eph. 2:21
Groweth unto an holy temple.
The Greek word naos is found in the New Testament forty -six times,
translated `temple' in every place except one where it is rendered `shrine'
(Acts 19:24). The word naos occurs sixteen times in the Book of the
Revelation, more times than any other book of the New Testament, and is a key