God’s Holy Temple in the Book of Ephesians

First-century Ephesus was a sprawling provincial capital of Asia Minor. Situated in fertile lands with a mild climate, the city boasted a population of over a quarter million, making it the second largest city in the Roman Empire. Rising above the teeming streets and crowded markets was the fabulous Temple of Artemis.

Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is brimming with architectural language. In Ephesians 2:21 he refers to a temple that is built by God. How much of the letter to the Ephesians is actually a reference to God’s Temple? And was the apostle thinking of the Ephesian Temple of Artemis as he penned this letter?

We may never know the exact images in the apostle’s mind as he wrote, but a close look at the geographic context and vocabulary of Ephesians will help Christians to better understand this book.

The Temple of Artemis

Antipater of Sidon was a Greek poet who compiled the list of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. He described the Temple of Artemis in this way:

“I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, “Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand.”” (Antipater, Greek Anthology [IX.58])

Antipater of Sidon

This temple was a gigantic architectural wonder.Demetrius the silversmith referred to “the temple of the great goddess Artemis…she whom all Asia and the world worship” (Acts 19:27).

The temple was filled with marble. It had around 127 elegant columns supporting the roof. Inside, a titanic statue of the goddess herself peered down aloofly at the worshippers.

Though Ephesus was located in fertile ground near the sea, it was the Temple of Artemis that brought her glory. This temple was so grand that travelers from the entire empire came to visit, and a huge city naturally sprang up.

To Christians living in Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis was a symbol of the power and sway of paganism. The soaring columns represented the ancient reign of ‘the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience’ (Ephesians 2:2).

A Holy Temple in the Lord – Evidence in Chapter Two

(19) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, (21) in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (22) In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul set the stage for ‘temple language’ by referring to God’s ‘workmanship.’ What is this workmanship? According to Ephesians 2:21, it is ‘a holy temple in the Lord.’

Obviously, Paul is not referring to any human temple. But what sort of temple came to mind when he wrote about a temple? While it is possible that Paul was referring to the Temple in Jerusalem, it is more likely that he is referring to the Ephesians temple of Artemis – a known landmark for the Ephesians, and one which would be familiar to every resident of the city.

God’s Glory in the Church – Evidence in Chapter Three

(17b) that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (19) and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:17b-21

Ephesians three is a museum exhibit of Paul’s writing style. The apostle – like many ancient authors – follows multiple ideas through his writing. Beginning in 3:2, Paul begins an idea which continues for twelve verses. Finally, in verse 14, he returns to his main theme: “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father.”

 “For this reason I,” he says…and then promptly goes on his twelve verse rabbit trail. Finally, in verse 14, he returns to his theme: “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father.”

What is “this reason?” It is the recognition that Jews and Gentiles are unified in Christ, part of God’s temple. If we put 3:2-13 in parentheses, the reasoning becomes clear: Paul is bowing in praise to God because Jews and Gentiles are both unified in God’s temple.

Then the apostle asks God to strengthen the Ephesians with power (3:16), desiring that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith (3:17). His ultimate aim is twofold. First, he wants them to “comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth,” and second, he wants them to “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”

Breadth, Length, Height, and Depth

Many people believe that the “breadth and length and height and depth” refer to the “love of Christ.” If this is correct, then Paul is describing the vastness of Christ’s love for His people. The view argues that the Greek word for ‘and’ (beginning of verse 19) can be translated as ‘even,’ paralleling the spatial terms with the love of Christ.

This is a weak theory. The Greek word – while occasionally translated as ‘even,’ is normally translated ‘and.’ Further, there is little else to indicate that Paul is thinking of Christ’s love in spatial terms.

A better explanation is to understand Paul’s spatial terms as referring to a metaphorical building – God’s temple. This is preferable because it fits well with Paul’s use of architectural language. Paul already introduced the concept of the church as a “whole structure” that is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” and “grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:20-21). After removing Paul’s extended discourse in 3:2-13, it would make sense that he is referring back to the previous architectural concept of a temple that he had already introduced.

Conclusion

Evil and falsehood are thriving everywhere, to be sure, but just like the Temple of Artemis, they are dwarfed by the incredible work of God. While Satan is busy among the children of disobedience, God is also working through his mighty power. God is making something so grand that we cannot begin to comprehend it. He is building a temple for himself.

(This article is revised from its original publication on February 13, 2016)