The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the New Revised Standard Version ( NRSV ).  1 Kings 6:22 reads as follows:

"22 Next he overlaid the whole house with gold, in order that the whole house might be perfect; even the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold."

The sacred text of the passage in this copy of the Holy Bible, from which the above-given verse was taken, is entitled: "Solomon Builds the Temple" ( please read verses one through twenty-two to get the immediate context ).

     The word "perfect," in verse twenty-two ( above ), indicates the fine craftsmanship that was employed in the building of  Solomon's Temple.  "The primary meaning of the Temple was the same as that of the ark it was constructed to enshrine: a symbol of God's presence in the midst of His people (Ex. 25:21-22)."  [  See HOLMAN BIBLE DICTIONARY, BUTLER, TRENT C., PH.D., HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, Copyright 1991 Holman Bible Publishers, p. 1328.  ]

It was only fitting that this house of God be well built.

     In the New Testament, we read of another temple: the apostle Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) wrote ( cf. 1:4, 10; 2:1-5; 3:1-3; 16:21, for example ) of the human body as "a temple of the Holy Spirit within you" ( see 1 Corinthians 6:19 ).  However, the Holy Spirit does not dwell within everyone ( see Matthew 16:17, Mark 16:16, John 1:12, 13; 10:30; 14:6; 17:1, 3, 17, Acts 2:38; 5:32, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 ( especially verse 3, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Ephesians 2:8, Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), Titus 1:1, 2, and 1 John 5:6-8 ( KJV, for example ), for example ).  Whatever the case may be, our physical body has been "fearfully and wonderfully made" ( see Psalm 139:14 ): the eyes, nose, ears, fingers, toes, etcetera, have been so created by the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ).  See also Genesis 2:4-25, for example.

     It is incumbent upon us, then, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), to live in a manner that reflects the Holy Spirit dwelling within us ( see Galatians 5:22-26, for example ): we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" ( see Ephesians 2:10 ).  Let us use our bodies to perform those good works daily.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.