Date
6-17-2026
Department
Rawlings School of Divinity
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Bible Exposition (PhD)
Chair
Sorin Sabou
Disciplines
Religion
Recommended Citation
Anderson, Bobby Terrell, "I Will Dwell Among Them”: A Theological Study of the Temple Motif from Leviticus 26:11-12, Ezekiel 37:27, Paul’s Temple (2 Cor 6:16) and its fulfillment in Revelation 21:1-3" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 8582.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/8582
Abstract
Paul’s reference to the Temple in 2 Corinthians 6 is connected to the Temple in Leviticus 26 and Ezekiel 37, as well as to the future Temple’s fulfillment in Revelation 21:1-3. Paul’s use of the Old Testament citation supports his declaration that God’s people embody the temple in 2 Corinthians 6:16, where he cites Leviticus 26:11-12 and Ezekiel 37:27. Paul’s temple in 2 Corinthians 6:16 alludes to several Old Testament texts concerning the temple, and these texts provide a promise of the Davidic dynasty captured in 2 Samuel 7:14. The textual relationship between Paul’s text and the Old Testament texts connects 2 Corinthians 6:16 to the Old Testament texts to demonstrate what Beale and Carson describe as the “special relationship between God and his people and how it connects to the eschatological temple mentioned in (Rev 21:1-3).” Paul’s allusion to the temple is equivalent to the eschatological fulfillment of the temple (Rev 21:1-3), and the biblical writers understood this. Paul’s temple (2 Cor 6:16) began in the Old Testament and traced its development throughout into the New Testament. The Old Testament Scriptures from Isaiah 52:1, Exodus 25:8, Leviticus 26:12, and 1 Kings 6:13 support the promise of the eschatological temple, and the New Testament Scriptures in 2 Corinthians 6:16, alluding to the temple’s fulfillment (Rev 21:1-3), present it as the ultimate dwelling place of God on earth. The terms “Temple” and “Tabernacle” appear in Old Testament Scriptures (Lev 26:11-12; Ezek 37:27), which support the covenant promise God made to His people that He would dwell among them forever. These Old Testament prophetic passages not only support Paul’s argument about the temple (2 Cor 6:16) but also set the narrative for the promise that God would dwell in the midst of His people forever, a promise fulfilled in the eschatological Temple (Rev 21:1-3).
