While there was a continuation from Judaism to Christianity (God worked through Judaism to provide the Christ on which Christianity is founded), also there are some powerful contrasts between Judaism and Christianity. One of those contrasts is seen in the existence and the role of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Many insights are gained into Christianity through understanding the perspectives and practices of first-century Judaism.
Both Judaism and idolatry (in most of idolatrys forms) were geography oriented. The sites that were selected for altars or religious buildings commonly had to be holy sites. These religious sites could be designated/looked upon as being holy for a variety of reasons. Prior to erecting sacrificial altars or religious buildings, there commonly was a reason" for regarding the place appropriate for the religious purpose. Examples of this view prior to the existence of Israel as a nation or the existence of the tabernacle or temple can be seen in Genesis 8:13-22; 12:7, 8; 23:7-14; 26:22-25; 28:10-17 (note especially verse 17); 33:18-20; and 35:1-15.
In Judaism, the site used for holy purposes was holy [thus, there was holy geography] (consider Deuteronomy 12:1-14). In the Christianity revealed in the New Testament, there is no emphasis on a holy geography. While it is true that (1) Jewish converts to the resurrected Jesus Christ honored the Jewish temple as containing the presence of God (consider Acts 2:46 and 3:1) and that (2) Jewish converts and gentile converts did express faith in God in contrasting religious acts (consider Romans 14:1-15:3), there was no stress of necessity placed on geographical sites. The Christian regarded everything to be holy because (1) God the Creator is the source of everything, and (2) everything has the potential of being sanctified. Consider Pauls teaching in 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
One of the huge contrasts between Judaism and Christianity is in what is considered temple. In Judaism temple was a place, a geographical site. This fact must not be emphasized in ways that are not true. Gods concept was that holy or penitent people would come to a holy place to praise Him through animal sacrifice and to make petition to Him through prayers. However, animal sacrifices and prayers were ineffective, were an insult to God, if holy or penitent people did not come to the temple. Even if the animal sacrifices were correct, the methods of offering were correct, and the place was correct, God was insulted if the people were wicked and not repentant (read again Isaiah 1:10-15) The fact that unrepentant, wicked people came to the temple never deceived God! Being at the temple did not transform wicked lives (determined to continue wicked practices) into righteous lives.
In Christianity, believing people who are devoted to obeying and following the resurrected Jesus are Gods temple. Thus, the deliberate, understood wickedness of the man or woman converted to the resurrected Jesus Christ is an attack on Gods temple. The congregation in Corinth was riddled with wicked acts, wicked attitudes, and wicked practices. These Christians practiced division (chapters 1:10-4:21), were sexually immoral (chapter 5); were justice driven--not compassionate (chapter 6:1-10); were inconsistently judgmental (chapter 6:12-20); were confused about marriage (chapter 7); were confused about confronting idolatry in the converted (chapter 8); were confused about Pauls example (chapter 9); were confused about the appropriate presentation of self in worship (chapter 11:1-16); were confused about the Lords Supper (chapter 11:17-34); were confused about the purpose of spiritual gifts (chapter 12); were confused about the role of love among Christians (chapter 13); were confused about the importance of edification (chapter 14); were confused about resurrection (chapter 15); and were confused about Pauls collection (chapter 16:1-9).
Twice in this massive spiritual confusion Paul used the fact that Christians are to view themselves as Gods temple to address the Corinthian Christians massive spiritual confusion. The first is in 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. The problem Paul dealt with was the problem of their internal division. Of the many spiritual problems this congregation had, Paul dealt with this problem first. Paul regarded this problem as foundational to all their problems1:10-4:21 dealt with the problem of their division in some way. Paul wrote more about their division than he wrote regarding any other problem they had!
One of the approaches he used was centered on the realization that the congregation was Gods temple. He began with Do you not know (3:16)? It is appropriately assumed this was NOT the first time they were exposed to this concept. You are Gods sanctuary because Gods Spirit lives in you collectively as a congregation. If a converted person is at fault in destroying Gods sanctuary, God will destroy that person! Gods sanctuary is holy, and you (collectively) are that sanctuary. Internal division is destructive to Gods purposes. Internal division results in the wrath of God. To cause division within a congregation attacks Gods work in Jesus Christ in a basic way that guarantees Gods angerand He will act in His anger!
As casual as Christians are about creating congregational division, as justified as Christians seem about generating congregational division, Christians today must not understand the seriousness Paul attached to that problem. Paul attached this seriousness to congregational division for two reasons. (1) Such division is a fundamental attack on Gods purposes. (2) Such division is a failure to recognize who every Christian is in Christ. No person can honor God while holding those two basic misconceptions. Those who are a part of Gods temple cannot attack Gods presence in self or in others in Christ.
For Thought and Discussion
1. In what way was there a continuation between Judaism and Christian?
2. Both Judaism and idolatry were what? That differs from New Testament Christianity how?
3. Use the temple to illustrate a huge contrast between Judaism and Christianity.
4. What never deceived God? The temple never transformed what?
5. How can Christians attack Gods temple?
6. Discuss how the Corinthian congregation had wicked acts, attitudes, and practices.
7. Twice Paul addressed their massive spiritual confusion in what way?
8. Discuss Pauls treatment of their internal division.
9. Discuss the fact that internal division is destructive to Gods purposes.
10. Give two reasons for internal division being serious.
11. Those who are a part of Gods temple cannot do what? Why?
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 8