Chapter 16.
The spiritual temple of God
Moreover, I will also tell you concerning the temple, how the wretched [Jews], wandering in
error, trusted not in God Himself, but in the temple, as being the house of God. For almost after
the manner of the Gentiles they worshipped Him in the temple. But learn how the Lord speaks,
when abolishing it: Who has meted out heaven with a span, and the earth with his palm? Have
not I? Isaiah 40:12 Thus says the Lord, Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool: what
kind of house will you build to Me, or what is the place of My rest? Isaiah 66:1 You perceive that
their hope is vain. Moreover, He again says, Behold, they who have cast down this temple, even
they shall build it up again. It has so happened. For through their going to war, it was destroyed
by their enemies; and now: they, as the servants of their enemies, shall rebuild it. Again, it was
revealed that the city and the temple and the people of Israel were to be given up. For the
Scripture says, And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the Lord will deliver up the sheep
of His pasture, and their sheepfold and tower, to destruction. And it so happened as the Lord
had spoken. Let us inquire, then, if there still is a temple of God. There is— where He himself
declared He would make and finish it. For it is written, And it shall come to pass, when the week
is completed, the temple of God shall be built in glory in the name of the Lord. Daniel 9:2427;
Haggai 2:10 I find, therefore, that a temple does exist. Learn, then, how it shall be built in the
name of the Lord. Before we believed in God, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak,
as being indeed like a temple made with hands. For it was full of idolatry, and was a habitation
of demons, through our doing such things as were opposed to [the will of] God. But it shall be
built, you observe, in the name of the Lord, in order that the temple of the Lord may be built in
glory. How? Learn [as follows]. Having received the forgiveness of sins, and placed our trust in
the name of the Lord, we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning.
Wherefore in our habitation God truly dwells in us. How? His word of faith; His calling of
promise; the wisdom of the statutes; the commands of the doctrine; He himself prophesying in
us; He himself dwelling in us; opening to us who were enslaved by death the doors of the
temple, that is, the mouth; and by giving us repentance introduced us into the incorruptible
temple. He then, who wishes to be saved, looks not to man, but to Him who dwells in him, and
speaks in him, amazed at never having either heard him utter such words with his mouth, nor
himself having ever desired to hear them. This is the spiritual temple built for the Lord.