The concept of the Church as a temple of God reveals a profound privilege and unity among its members. The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 2:20-22, illustrates that the Church is a dwelling place for the Supreme God and Loving Father, built together as a holy temple in the Lord. This image advances beyond the idea of a family or citizenship, showing a closer unity akin to the cohesion of stones in a building. Unlike a family where individuals can separate yet remain part of the unit, a building's integrity depends on the inseparable connection of its parts; if stones are removed, the structure collapses. Paul emphasizes that the Church is not merely a material construct but a vital, living process. The Church grows into a holy temple through the Spirit, with God dwelling within it, surpassing the intimacy of a child approaching a father. This indwelling presence signifies the ultimate mystery and glory of the Church, where God resides among His people, as His presence once dwelt in the ancient temple. The unity and privilege of being part of this temple are paramount. Paul portrays the Church as a building in progress, with God as the eternal Architect adding living stones across generations. Each member is carefully chosen and fitted together, harmoniously related to the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and to Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone. This cornerstone binds all parts together, ensuring the structure's stability and unity. Holiness defines this temple, distinguishing it from mere size or influence. The Church's primary characteristic is its sanctity, making it a fitting habitation for God. True unity stems from the Holy Spirit and the purity of life and doctrine, not from mechanical or statistical growth. God calls and shapes individuals into this spiritual edifice, ensuring they align with His divine plan through a vital, dynamic process. Every member must correspond to the foundation and maintain a direct relationship with Jesus Christ, being incorporated into Him in a vital union. Additionally, members are interrelated, fitted together with precision as Paul describes with a unique term meaning harmoniously joined. God, as the master builder, selects and prepares each stone, chiseling away rough edges to ensure a perfect fit within His holy temple. This shaping process, often through personal discipline or divine intervention, ensures that each part contributes to the overall harmony and purpose of the Church as God's dwelling place.

The concept of the Church as a temple emerges through a subtle metaphor in Scripture, portraying it as a spiritual house. It is described with building terms such as foundation and cornerstone, indicating a structure joined together by a master designer as a spiritual habitation. Unlike any ordinary building made of concrete, steel, or wood, this temple is unique, composed of living stones, emphasizing its nature as a living organism. This building, designed by a divine architect, is alive and distinct from mere physical structures where people do not reside but merely meet. The metaphor underscores that the Church, while likened to a building, transcends the common understanding of a church as a physical edifice, revealing its true essence as a dynamic, spiritual entity crafted for a sacred purpose.

The Bible employs various symbols to depict the church of God, including the imagery of a house, temple, building, or sanctuary. In Isaiah 5:7, God explicitly states that the vineyard is the house of Israel, and as the chapter progresses, He aligns the analogy of the vineyard being trampled with houses being destroyed. Similarly, in I Corinthians 3:9, Paul merges the concepts of vineyard and house when describing the church at Corinth, and in I Timothy 3:15, he parallels the house of God with the church of the living God. Numerous biblical references portray the church as a temple, house, or building, whether typified as the physical houses of Israel and Judah or the congregation in the wilderness, or as a spiritual house representing the New Testament church.