Why did Jesus refer to Himself as a temple? In regards to rebuilding the temple.

[br4ndon21]

I guess I decided to post in this area because I more closely relate to Methodist beliefs.

Anyway, what did Jesus mean when He said He'd rebuild (raise) the temple in three days?

I've understood this to mean that Jesus was the temple and that He was predicting His death and resurrection but I don't understand why Jesus would be referred to AS a temple.

 

[GraceSeeker]

Maybe because the original function of the first temple was to be the housing for the Shekinah glory of God (which was understood to reside in the Ark of the Covenant), kept in the temple. By the time of the 2nd temple in Jesus' day the Ark had been lost, but as Christians we understand that all the fullness of God dwells in the Son, and the Son is incarnated in the person of Jesus. So, Jesus' body is the temple of God.

Further, because his Spirit is made available to those who have been reconciled with the Father through the [presence of the person of the Holy Spirit dwelling within those who are in Christ, then they too become known as temples (of the Holy Spirit). And through that same power that was breathed into us to animate Adam, we who are already dead in our sins experience the gift of regeneration (i.e. being reborn or generated with life again), so that as we die with Jesus in our baptism, we are co-raised with him to new life. The same power that is at work in Christ is at work in our mortal bodies also.

So, the original temple, Jesus' body, and our bodies are all temples because the glory of God resides therein.

 

[BipolarBear46]

Because God lived in the temple, and while Jesus was on earth, God lived in him. Therefore he was the temple. Also, people went to the temple to worship. And now, our prayers and worship go to Jesus.