Methods of Bible Study Week 4 Biblical Theology

Methods of Bible Study Week 4

Biblical Theology: the Temple Genesis to Revelation

What is Biblical Theology? Study of theology of individual books or select Biblical collections as they connect to the whole narrative of Scripture Often, Biblical theology then traces themes as they develop across the Old Testament and New Testament.

What is Biblical Theology? Read the Bible progressively as a historically developing collection of documents Presuppose the Bible is coherent Work inductively from the text- from individual books and from themes that run through the whole Make theological connections within the entire Bible that the Bible itself authorizes

What is Biblical Theology? Examples of major themes: Covenant, Law, Temple, Priest, Sacrifice, Kingdom of God (NIV Zondervan Study Bible has a Biblical Theology focus. Articles included that trace the major themes)

What is the Temple? Place of God’s presence- “the palace of the divine King” Meeting place between God and people Place of sacrifice & forgiveness Trace the Thread: Garden of Eden – Tent of Meeting. Tabernacle- Jerusalem Temple- Jesus Christ- the Churchthe New Jerusalem

GARDEN OF EDEN God creates the world to dwell there with the people He creates Beginning of what will eventually result in the New Jerusalem Expulsion from the Garden is expulsion from the presence of God Until the exodus there is no earthly sanctuary where God dwells

TENT OF MEETING Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting. ” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Exodus 33: 7 -11

TABERNACLE Tent- temporary dwelling Built to precise design And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it. Ex 25: 8 -9 Glory (shekinah) of the Lord filled it and covered it Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Ex 40: 38

TEMPLE Built by Solomon He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sam 7: 13 Permanent place for the ark God is not confined to the temple But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 1 Kings 8: 27

TEMPLE Captivity & Destruction- How? People had neglected God’s Word (2 Kings 22) God removes himself from His dwelling place Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple… Ezekiel 10: 18 a

TEMPLE Return & Rebuild In order to be reconciled to God, they must rebuild the temple. The Old Covenant demands sacrifice and ritual for reconciliation to take place The narrative of the Old Testament ends with the Temple being rebuilt… BUT…. The Bible does NOT record God’s glory returning to the temple….

Intertestamental era…

JESUS CHRIST And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1: 14 Transfiguration And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him. ” Mk 9: 7 The Old Testament Temple points to Jesus (John 2: 19 -22, 4: 21) Where to worship is superseded by the presence of the Messiah

JESUS CHRIST Matthew’s passion narrative Triumphal Entry & Overturning tables (Matt 21) “Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. ” (Matt 24: 2) Accused before Sanhedrin (Matt 26) The Temple curtain is torn as Jesus cries out in death (Matt 27: 50 -51) Jesus buried in a tomb, covered by a stone, raised to lifeno temple or tomb can hold the presence of God! Great Commission: “I am with you always” (Matt 28)

JESUS CHRIST Hebrews They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain. ” Hebrews 8: 5

THE CHURCH “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. ” Matt 28: 18 -20 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2: 19 -22 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2: 4 -5

THE NEW JERUSALEM And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. Revelation 21: 15 -16 a And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. Revelation 21: 22

What does this mean for us? Christian worship is not bound up in location or ritual. New Testament language ties Christian “worship” and “sacrifice” to consistent Christ-like living. Corporate worship engages us in the act of worship which should be the pattern of our lives at all times: Praise- Thankfulness- Rejoicing- Understanding His Word All of this is secured for us by Jesus alone! Future promise