John - 2:21



21 But he spoke of the temple of his body.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of John 2:21.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
but he spake concerning the sanctuary of his body;
But He was speaking of the Sanctuary of His body.
But his words were about that holy building which was his body.
Yet he was speaking about the Temple of his body.
But Jesus was speaking of his body as a temple.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Of the temple of his body - Rather, the temple, his body: his body had no particular temple: but it was the temple of his Divinity - the place in which, as in the ancient temple, his Godhead dwelt; See how the Jews perverted these words, Matthew 26:60 (note), and the notes there.

But he spake of the (i) temple of his body.
(i) That is, of his body.

But he spoke of the temple of his body. Which was the antitype of the material temple; and might well be called so, since the bodies of the saints are called temples, 1-Corinthians 3:16 2-Corinthians 6:16; and the human nature of Christ is called a tabernacle, Hebrews 8:2; and he himself, in prophecy, is said to be "for a sanctuary", or temple, Isaiah 8:14, and that because the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily, the train of the divine perfections filled the temple of his human nature, Colossians 2:9. And because here, as in the temple, God grants his presence, and communes with his saints, accepts of their prayers and praises, and all their spiritual sacrifices through him; and who is the oracle, the true "Urim" and "Thummim", by whom he delivers his whole mind and will to his people.

temple of his body--in which was enshrined the glory of the eternal Word. (See on John 1:14). By its resurrection the true Temple of God upon earth was reared up, of which the stone one was but a shadow; so that the allusion is not quite exclusively to Himself, but takes in that Temple of which He is the foundation, and all believers are the "lively stones." (1-Peter 2:4-5).

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