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| {{FairMormon}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Improvement Era index]] |
| <onlyinclude>
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| ==Question: Was the temple obsolete after Christ?==
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| ===There is no evidence that the early Christian apostles abandoned the use of the temple. Indeed, they embraced it, and continued to use it for the appearance of the Risen Lord===
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| Some Christians charge that Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection meant that the temple was to be removed from Christian worship—the Atonement made the temple superfluous. Therefore, they criticize the LDS for persisting with temple worship. Some claim that the veil in the temple becoming rent in twain after the crucifixion of Christ indicates that the temple was no longer to be used.
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| There is no evidence that the early Christian apostles abandoned the use of the temple. Indeed, they embraced it, and continued to use it for the appearance of the Risen Lord, and the receipt of prophetic calls.
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| It is not surprising that Christians have since down-played the importance of the temple, since most do not have one. No one would want to admit they are missing an important part of the gospel. But, if Paul and other apostles valued and honored the temple, why do critics attack the Latter-day Saints for doing the same?
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| BYU Professor William J. Hamblin wrote:
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| <blockquote>
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| Unfortunately for [critics] it is quite clear that the New Testament apostles continued to worship in the Jerusalem temple after Christ's ascension ({{b||Acts|2|46}}, {{bv||Acts|3|1-10}}, {{bv||Acts|5|20-42}}). Even Paul worshipped there ({{b||Acts|21|26-30}}, {{bv||Acts|22|17}}, {{bv||Acts|24|6-18}}, {{bv||Acts|25|8}}, {{bv||Acts|26|21}}). Paul is explicitly said to have performed purification rituals ({{b||Acts|21|26}}, {{bv||Acts|24|18}}), and prayed in the temple ({{bv||Acts|22|17}}, cf. {{bv||Acts|3|1}}); he claims that he has not offended "against the temple," implying he accepts its sanctity ({{bv||Acts|25|8}}). Indeed, Paul also offered sacrifice (''prosfora'') in the temple ({{bv||Acts|21|26}}, cf. {{b||Numbers|6|14-18}}), a very odd thing for him to do if the temple had been completely superceded after Christ's ascension. Finally, and most importantly, Paul had a vision of Christ ("The Just One" ''ton dikaion'') in the temple ({{b||Acts|22|14-21}}), paralleling Old Testament temple theophanies, and strongly implying a special sanctity in the temple, where God still appears to men even after Christ's ascension.<ref>Bill Hamblin, "Veil of Temple Rent in Twain," post to ''fairbords.org'' (30 September 2006 15h03), last accessed 3 October 2006. {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairboards.org/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=18361&hl=&view=findpost&p=1208041834}} (All quotes have been edited to insert hotlinks to scripture references.)</ref>
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| </blockquote>
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| Hamblin elaborated further on Paul's vision of Christ in the temple during which he received his prophetic call:
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| :Ananias says Paul will "see the Just One." ({{b||Acts|22|14}})
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| :Paul then goes to Jerusalem ({{b||Acts|22|17}})
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| :"When I [Paul] was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance" ({{b||Acts|22|17}})
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| :Then he sees Christ/The Just One ({{b||Acts|22|18}})
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| :Christ tells him to leave Jerusalem ({{b||Acts|22|18}}) and go preach to the Gentiles ({{B||Acts|22|21}}).<ref>Bill Hamblin, "Veil of Temple Rent in Twain," post to ''fairbords.org'' (30 September 2006 12h47), last accessed 3 October 2006. {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairboards.org/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=18361&hl=&view=findpost&p=1208041759}}</ref>
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| Hamblin then illustrates that Paul continued to offer "sin offerings" in the temple after his conversion to Christanity:
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| <blockquote>
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| Paul’s ''prosfora'' was participation in the fulfillment of a Nazarite vow taken by four men ({{b||Acts|21|21-26}}). The sacrifices required to fulfill this vow are described in {{b||Numbers|6|13-18}}. They include making a “sin offering” ({{b||Numbers|6|14}}). Therefore, Paul’s ''prosfora'' included a sin offering. (See Bruce, ''Acts of the Apostles'', 3rd ed, p. 443-8.) Furthermore, Christ’s sacrifice is called a ''prosfora'' in {{b||Hebrews|10|10,14,18}}, and is directly correlated to the temple sin offerings ({{b||Acts|10|3-9}}). Given all this, it is rather blatant special pleading to claim that Paul’s ''prosfora'' in the temple did not include a sin offering.<ref>Bill Hamblin, "Veil of Temple Rent in Twain," post to ''fairboards.org'' (30 September 2006 15h52), last accessed 3 October 2006. {{fairlink|url=http://www.fairboards.org/index.php?act=ST&f=11&t=18361&hl=&view=findpost&p=1208041855}}</ref>
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| </blockquote>
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| One respected non-LDS scholar notes the connection between certain biblical language and the temple concept:
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| :In general, any cultic activity to which the biblical text applies the formula 'before the Lord' can be considered an indication of the existence of a temple at the site, since this expression ... belongs to the temple's technical terminology.<ref>Menahem Haran, ''Temples and Temple-Service in Ancient Israel: An Inquiry into Biblical Cult Phenomena and the Historical Setting of the Priestly School'' (Eisenbrauns; Reprint edition, 1985[1979]), 26. </ref>
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| The phrase “Before the Lord” can be found in 2 Timothy 2:14 and 2 Peter 2:11.
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| </onlyinclude>
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| {{endnotes sources}}
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| <!-- PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->
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| [[es:Pregunta: ¿Era el templo obsoleto después de Cristo?]]
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