The Holy Spirit indwells the church universal. Hebrews , of course, also indwells ever believer individually ( John 14:17; Romans 5:5; Romans 8:9; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Galatians 3:2; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13). Paul compared the individual believer to a temple of God elsewhere ( 1 Corinthians 6:19). He also referred to the local Christian congregation as a temple ( 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16). However here he revealed that all Christians are part of one great temple, the church universal. [source][source][source]
"Now His presence is dispersed, not localized. Now His presence is incarnated, instead of confined behind a veil." [1][source]
"What a fellowship rivets our gaze in the communion of saints! Where shall we find its like? Gathered from east and west, from patriarchs of the prior and laggards of the last times, from the courts of kings and the cabins of beggars, from babes-in-arms and centenarians, right honourables and ragamuffins, from the ranks of the learned and the ignorant, the pharisee and the publican, the sharp-witted and the feeble-minded, the respectable and the criminal classes-what a divine power must be put forth to mould all these incongruous elements into one consentient [2] whole, stamped with one regenerate likeness for evermore, the radiant image of the "Alpha and Omega," God"s Yokefellow and theirs, coequally David"s Son and David"s Lord!" [3][source]
God"s plan for believers included the building of a new entity after Jesus Christ"s death, resurrection, and ascension (cf. Matthew 16:18). It was to be the church. The church is not just a continuation and modernization of Israel under a new name but a new creation ( Ephesians 2:15). In it Jewish and Gentile believers stand with equal rights and privileges before God. Membership in this new body is one of the great blessings of believers in the present age along with our individual blessings ( Ephesians 2:1-10). Paul glorified God for that blessing in this section of Ephesians. [source][source][source]
"I wonder if anything is more urgent today, for the honour of Christ and for the spread of the gospel, than that the church should be, and should be seen to be, what by God"s purpose and Christ"s achievement it already Isaiah -a single new humanity, a model of human community, a family of reconciled brothers and sisters who love their Father and love each other, the evident dwelling place of God by his Spirit. Only then will the world believe in Christ as Peacemaker. Only then will God receive the glory due to his name." [4][source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 2:11-22 - Reconciled And United By The Cross
The state of the unconverted must be described by a series of negations. Shut the sun out of the world, love out of the home, liberty out of the state! The unsaved know not of their infinite loss; but if they could see what we inherit through union with Jesus, they could cease to wonder that we run not with them into the same excess of riot. Does a maiden need much persuasion to cast aside paste jewels when real ones are offered her!
There was no natural affinity between Jew and Gentile. This arose partly because of diverse nationality and genius; but in addition the whole code of Jewish customs as to eating clean meats and ceremonial pollution, prevented it. All these party-walls of division were swept away by Christ. In Him, as the cornerstone, two walls, running in different directions, met. Two sections of humanity, East and West, became united to each other, because each was united to Him, and thus was formed a new unit of humanity.
What a noble conception is given of the Church and ultimately of the redeemed race, growing slowly through the ages and becoming God's dwelling-place! Notice the Trinity; through Jesus, the Eternal Father comes by His Spirit to dwell in the heart of man. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 2
1By comparing what we were by nature, with what we are by grace, 10he declares that we are made for good works: and being brought near by Christ, 19should not live as Gentiles and foreigners, but as citizens with the saints, and the family of God
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 2:22
Ye also are builded together [και υμεις συνοικοδομειστε] Ye Gentiles also. Present passive indicative (continuous process) of common old verb συνοικοδομεω sunoikodomeō to build together with others or out of varied materials as here. Only here in N.T. In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter uses οικοδομειστε oikodomeisthe for the same process. [source]
For a habitation [εις κατοικητηριον] Late word (lxx), in N.T. only here and Revelation 18:2. From κατοικεω katoikeō to dwell, as Ephesians 3:17. Possibly each of us is meant here to be the “habitation of God in the Spirit” and all together growing (αυχει auxei) “into a holy temple in the Lord,” a noble conception of the brotherhood in Christ. [source]
Are builded together [συνοικοδομεῖσθε] As component parts of the one building. The reference is to individual Christians, not to communities. [source]
Ephesians 3:17May dwell [κατοικῆσαι] Settle down and abide. Take up His permanent abode, so that ye may be a habitation ( κατοικητήριον ) of God. See on Ephesians 2:22. The connection is with the preceding clause: “to be strengthened, etc., so that Christ may dwell, the latter words having at once a climactic and an explanatory force, and adding the idea of permanency to that of strengthening. [source]
Colossians 1:19Dwell [κατοικῆσαι] Permanently. See on Luke 11:26. Compare the Septuagint usage of κατοικεῖν permanentdwelling, and παροικεῖν transientsojourning. Thus Genesis 37:1, “Jacob dwelt (permanently, κατῴκει ) in the land where his father sojourned ( παρῷκησεν A.V., was a stranger ). Perhaps in contrast with the partial and transient connection of the pleroma with Christ asserted by the false teachers. The word is used of the indwelling of the Father, Ephesians 2:22( κατοικητήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ habitationof God ); of the Son, Ephesians 3:17; and of the Spirit, James 4:5. [source]
Revelation 18:2Is become [κατοικητηριον] Prophetic aorist middle.A habitation of devils (κατοικεω katoikētērion). Late word (from πυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαταρτου katoikeō to dwell), in N.T. only here and Ephesians 2:22. Devils should be demons, of course. So Isaiah prophesied of Babylon (Isaiah 13:21-22) and also Jeremiah (Jeremiah 50:39) and Zephaniah of Nineveh (Zephaniah 2:14). Both Babylon and Nineveh are ruins.A hold of every unclean spirit πυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαταρτου και μεμισημενου Phulakē is garrison or watch-tower as in Habakkuk 2:1, rather than a prison (Revelation 20:7).A hold of every unclean and hateful bird (Ορνεου phulakē pantos orneou akathartou kai memisēmenou). Orneou is old word for bird, in N.T. only Revelation 18:2; Revelation 19:17,Revelation 19:21. “The evil spirits, watching over fallen Rome like night-birds or harpies that wait for their prey, build their eyries in the broken towers which rise from the ashes of the city” (Swete). Long ago true of Babylon and Nineveh, some day to be true of Rome. [source]
Revelation 18:2A habitation of devils [κατοικεω] Late word (from πυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαταρτου katoikeō to dwell), in N.T. only here and Ephesians 2:22. Devils should be demons, of course. So Isaiah prophesied of Babylon (Isaiah 13:21-22) and also Jeremiah (Jeremiah 50:39) and Zephaniah of Nineveh (Zephaniah 2:14). Both Babylon and Nineveh are ruins. [source]
What do the individual words in Ephesians 2:22 mean?
inwhomalsoyouare being built togetherfora habitation-of God[the] Spirit
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 2:22
Ye Gentiles also. Present passive indicative (continuous process) of common old verb συνοικοδομεω sunoikodomeō to build together with others or out of varied materials as here. Only here in N.T. In 1 Peter 2:5 Peter uses οικοδομειστε oikodomeisthe for the same process. [source]
Late word (lxx), in N.T. only here and Revelation 18:2. From κατοικεω katoikeō to dwell, as Ephesians 3:17. Possibly each of us is meant here to be the “habitation of God in the Spirit” and all together growing (αυχει auxei) “into a holy temple in the Lord,” a noble conception of the brotherhood in Christ. [source]
As component parts of the one building. The reference is to individual Christians, not to communities. [source]
Answering to temple. Only here and Revelation 18:2. Indicating a permanent dwelling. See on dwell, Luke 11:26; see on Acts 2:5; see on Mark 5:3. In marked contrast with sojourners, Ephesians 2:19. [source]
Better, as Rev., in. In the fellowship of the indwelling Spirit. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 2:22
The Holy Spirit who inspires our faith. Not as Lightfoot, spiritually. The words πνεύματι ἐκ πίστεως are not to be taken as one conception, the Spirit which is of faith, but present two distinct and coordinate facts which characterize the waiting for the hope of righteousness; namely, the agency of the Holy Spirit, in contrast with the flesh (comp. Romans 7:6; Romans 8:4, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13; Ephesians 2:22), and faith in contrast with the works of the law (comp. Galatians 3:3, and see Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:3; Romans 1:17; Romans 3:22; Romans 9:30; Romans 10:6). [source]
Through, pervading: in, indwelling. Compare Ephesians 2:22; Ephesians 3:17. [source]
Settle down and abide. Take up His permanent abode, so that ye may be a habitation ( κατοικητήριον ) of God. See on Ephesians 2:22. The connection is with the preceding clause: “to be strengthened, etc., so that Christ may dwell, the latter words having at once a climactic and an explanatory force, and adding the idea of permanency to that of strengthening. [source]
Permanently. See on Luke 11:26. Compare the Septuagint usage of κατοικεῖν permanentdwelling, and παροικεῖν transientsojourning. Thus Genesis 37:1, “Jacob dwelt (permanently, κατῴκει ) in the land where his father sojourned ( παρῷκησεν A.V., was a stranger ). Perhaps in contrast with the partial and transient connection of the pleroma with Christ asserted by the false teachers. The word is used of the indwelling of the Father, Ephesians 2:22( κατοικητήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ habitationof God ); of the Son, Ephesians 3:17; and of the Spirit, James 4:5. [source]
Even as was the house in which Moses served. The Christian community is thus emphatically designated as the house of God, implying the transitoriness of the Mosaic system. Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 4:17. [source]
In the Gospels always of the temple. Not found in Paul. Once in the Pastorals, of the church, 1 Timothy 3:15, and so 1 Peter 4:17. Here the whole Christian family. Comp. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22. [source]
Prophetic aorist middle.A habitation of devils (κατοικεω katoikētērion). Late word (from πυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαταρτου katoikeō to dwell), in N.T. only here and Ephesians 2:22. Devils should be demons, of course. So Isaiah prophesied of Babylon (Isaiah 13:21-22) and also Jeremiah (Jeremiah 50:39) and Zephaniah of Nineveh (Zephaniah 2:14). Both Babylon and Nineveh are ruins.A hold of every unclean spirit πυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαταρτου και μεμισημενου Phulakē is garrison or watch-tower as in Habakkuk 2:1, rather than a prison (Revelation 20:7).A hold of every unclean and hateful bird (Ορνεου phulakē pantos orneou akathartou kai memisēmenou). Orneou is old word for bird, in N.T. only Revelation 18:2; Revelation 19:17, Revelation 19:21. “The evil spirits, watching over fallen Rome like night-birds or harpies that wait for their prey, build their eyries in the broken towers which rise from the ashes of the city” (Swete). Long ago true of Babylon and Nineveh, some day to be true of Rome. [source]
Late word (from πυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαταρτου katoikeō to dwell), in N.T. only here and Ephesians 2:22. Devils should be demons, of course. So Isaiah prophesied of Babylon (Isaiah 13:21-22) and also Jeremiah (Jeremiah 50:39) and Zephaniah of Nineveh (Zephaniah 2:14). Both Babylon and Nineveh are ruins. [source]