Online Journal Article: "Did God Dwell In The Second Temple? Clarifying The Relationship Between Theophany And Temple Dwelling" JETS 61.4 (2018): 767–84

https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/61/61-4/JETS_61.4_767-784_Greene.pdf

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https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/61/61-4/JETS_61.4_767-784_Greene.pdf

From the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (JETS)

JETS 61.4 (2018): 767–84
"DID GOD DWELL IN THE SECOND TEMPLE?
CLARIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THEOPHANY AND TEMPLE DWELLING"
by JOSEPH GREENE
Abstract: Unlike the tabernacle or Solomon’s temple, the Bible does not describe the glory
cloud of the Lord filling the second temple. This difference has caused many commentators to
ask whether God’s presence “dwelled” in the second temple. An accurate answer requires a
clarification of what temple dwelling means during the Second Temple period. A broad analysis
of temple theology within the biblical and Second Temple literature reveals that the glory cloud
relates to theophany, which is only one part of broader “presence” and “dwelling” concepts. The
interplay between these concepts and developments in temple theology shifted the meaning of
“dwelling.” This shift provided the avenue by which first century Jews could believe that the glory
cloud was never manifested and that God still “dwelled” in the second temple.
Understanding these beliefs should give interpreters pause when assigning significance
to the lack of a cloud theophany in the second temple. In practice, placing more significance
on the glory cloud than historically warranted raises other interpretive issues—especially for evangelical interpreters.
Key words: second temple, temple dwelling, God’s presence, glory cloud, theophany, spiritualization in exile, postexilic